Leaflet propaganda feared to dampen inter-Korean ties
By Yi Whan-woo
An activist group launched balloons carrying anti-Pyongyang propaganda leaflets across the demilitarized zone (DMZ), Tuesday.
The incident took place amid optimism for a thaw in frayed ties between the two Koreas after North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's allusion to a conditional summit.
According to police, the Campaign for Helping North Korean in Direct Way launched 20 balloons containing 600,000 leaflets at around 7:30 a.m. at the inter-Korean border town of Daegwangri in Gyeonggi Province. The leaflets denounced the dictatorial Kim regime for causing extreme poverty.
Lee Min-bok leads the activist group. The former North Korean citizen has carried out the airborne leaflet propaganda campaign against the Stalinist state since defecting.
Pyongyang has been furious about the leaflets and repeatedly warned it will retaliate. It also demanded that Cheong Wa Dae block the release of the balloons.
In October, the two Koreas exchanged machine-gun fire at the DMZ after North Korea apparently shot down balloons carrying the leaflets released by Lee and other activists in Paju, Gyeonggi Province.
The Ministry of Unification, which handles inter-Korean affairs, said Tuesday the government would not stop the controversial campaign despite concerns over the possible disruption of talks between Seoul and Pyongyang.
"There is nothing we could do," ministry spokesman Lim Byeong-cheol told reporters, saying the campaign had not been announced.
He cited the ministry's previous stance that it had no legal right to prohibit people from protesting against North Korea.
"Taking action against them will violate the freedom of expression, which is guaranteed by the Constitution," Lim said. "If the two Koreas make progress in building trust, it will begin to understand our government system. It then may not misunderstand [and think that] we have been acquiescing or nurturing the anti-Pyongyang activities."
The North Korean leader hinted at the possibility of an inter-Korean summit in his New Year message, Thursday.
He said suspended inter-Korean talks could resume at all levels, including a summit, if Seoul was willing to improve ties.
On Dec. 29, Seoul's Presidential Committee for Unification Preparation suggested holding the talks this month.
Spearheaded by President Park Geun-hye, the blue-ribbon committee said one of its two co-vice chairmen ― Unification Minister Ryoo Kihl-jae and Seoul's former ambassador to China Chung Chong-wook ― was ready to meet their North Korean counterparts to discuss pending inter-Korean issues.
By Yi Whan-woo
An activist group launched balloons carrying anti-Pyongyang propaganda leaflets across the demilitarized zone (DMZ), Tuesday.
The incident took place amid optimism for a thaw in frayed ties between the two Koreas after North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's allusion to a conditional summit.
According to police, the Campaign for Helping North Korean in Direct Way launched 20 balloons containing 600,000 leaflets at around 7:30 a.m. at the inter-Korean border town of Daegwangri in Gyeonggi Province. The leaflets denounced the dictatorial Kim regime for causing extreme poverty.
Lee Min-bok leads the activist group. The former North Korean citizen has carried out the airborne leaflet propaganda campaign against the Stalinist state since defecting.
Pyongyang has been furious about the leaflets and repeatedly warned it will retaliate. It also demanded that Cheong Wa Dae block the release of the balloons.
In October, the two Koreas exchanged machine-gun fire at the DMZ after North Korea apparently shot down balloons carrying the leaflets released by Lee and other activists in Paju, Gyeonggi Province.
The Ministry of Unification, which handles inter-Korean affairs, said Tuesday the government would not stop the controversial campaign despite concerns over the possible disruption of talks between Seoul and Pyongyang.
"There is nothing we could do," ministry spokesman Lim Byeong-cheol told reporters, saying the campaign had not been announced.
He cited the ministry's previous stance that it had no legal right to prohibit people from protesting against North Korea.
"Taking action against them will violate the freedom of expression, which is guaranteed by the Constitution," Lim said. "If the two Koreas make progress in building trust, it will begin to understand our government system. It then may not misunderstand [and think that] we have been acquiescing or nurturing the anti-Pyongyang activities."
The North Korean leader hinted at the possibility of an inter-Korean summit in his New Year message, Thursday.
He said suspended inter-Korean talks could resume at all levels, including a summit, if Seoul was willing to improve ties.
On Dec. 29, Seoul's Presidential Committee for Unification Preparation suggested holding the talks this month.
Spearheaded by President Park Geun-hye, the blue-ribbon committee said one of its two co-vice chairmen ― Unification Minister Ryoo Kihl-jae and Seoul's former ambassador to China Chung Chong-wook ― was ready to meet their North Korean counterparts to discuss pending inter-Korean issues.
