The Cabinet on Tuesday approved guidelines on the handling of state secrets before a controversial secrecy law that toughens penalties for leakers takes effect on Dec. 10 — leaving unaddressed concerns that the public's right to know will be undermined for the sake of national security.
Under the guidelines, state secrets are defined in 55 categories, such as information about the development and capabilities of submarines, aircraft, weapons and ammunition.
Intelligence and images obtained via radio waves and satellites and provided by foreign governments and international organizations could be withheld from the public.