The South Korean governemnt announced on Wednesday its decision of rejecting a South Korean journalist organization's project to exchange news with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).

"There are concerns that the exchange of news articles may undermine national security, public order and the interests of the general public," said South Korean Unification Ministry Spokesman Kim Ho-nyoun.

Meanwhile, another official of the Unification Ministry, speaking on condition of anonymity, told local media that the South Korean government sees possibility that the exchange may serve as a mouthpiece for the DPRK to deliver its messages to South Korea.

According to South Korea' Yonhap News Agency, South Korean and DPRK journalist associations reached an agreement in October last year in Pyongyang to exchange news, editorials, photos and videos through their websites.

The South Korean Unification Ministry, which takes in charge of inter-Korean affairs, decided not to approve the South Korean journalists' association's application for the exchange projects.

South Korea's journalist association, which groups about 40 media organizations nationwide, criticized the decision as an "insult" to the press and said it will take the case to court if the ministry refuses to reconsider.

"It's an insult to journalists to say we will be the mouthpiece for the North(DPRK). It's nonsense to make journalists bear the responsibility for the extremely damaged inter-Korean relations," said Lee Jun-hee, co-chair of the association.

The inter-Korean ties have been heavily strained since South Korean President Lee Myung-bak took office in February last year and adopted a harsh policy towards Pyongyang.

(Xinhua News Agency February 4, 2009)