Seoul police on Wednesday arrested two pro-North Korean activists on suspicion of attempting to set up an altar in central Seoul to mourn the death of former North Korean leader Kim Jong-il in December.
The two were charged with violating the National Security Law banning pro-North Korean activities.
The move came right after the Seoul Central District Court issued arrest warrants for the activists, citing concerns they might flee the country.
"Reasons for the criminal suspicions (facing them) have been understood and there are concerns of flight," the court said in its approval of the warrants.
The two men, both members of a pro-North Korean activist group that seeks federalist unification of the divided Koreas, are accused of attempting to set up a mourning altar in downtown Seoul following the North's announcement of Kim's Dec. 17 death.
The pair are also alleged to have disseminated pro-North content and materials on the Internet and in hard copy, the court said.
The National Security Law prohibits South Koreans from praising or supporting the communist North, which is defined by South Korean law as an enemy of the state. The 1950-53 Korean War ended in a truce, not a peace treaty. (Yonhap)