At a trial held on Jan. 23, the court sentenced them to one year and sixth months in jail and the same term of suspension of qualifications, claiming that they had "enemy-benefiting literature" though they did not form an "enemy-benefiting organization."

In this regard the Inchon branch of the Teachers Union held a press conference at the Inchon City Education Agency on April 20 in protest against the attitude of the Ministry of Education.

At the press conference speakers said those teachers are being suppressed on charges of the violation of the "Security Law".

They noted that it is unreasonable to punish those teachers on charge of possessing "enemy-benefiting literature" for the mere reason that they had books and papers related to education they had brought with them after their legitimate visit to Pyongyang.

They demanded the Ministry of Education stop the unreasonable action to disqualify the progressive teachers.