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Tue, January 19, 2021 | 13:49
Activists resume anti-NK airborne campaign
탈북자단체, 연천 민통선 인근서 대북전단 살포
Posted : 2015-01-06 18:02
Updated : 2015-01-06 19:05
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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.


탈북자단체, 연천 민통선 인근서 대북전단 살포

국내 한 탈북자단체가 5일 경기도 민간인통제선(민통선) 인근에서 북한 체제를 비판하는 대북전단을 살포했다.

경찰에 따르면 북한동포직접돕기운동은 5일 오후 7시30분께 경기도 연천군 신서면 대광리 야산에서 정권세습 등 북한 체제를 비판하는 대북전단 60만장을 풍선 20여 개에 매달아 날려 보냈다.

이 풍선들은 바람을 타고 강원도 철원 쪽으로 이동한 것으로 전해졌다.

전단 살포는 약 30여 분간 진행됐으며 이 단체 대표 이민복 씨와 그의 부인 등 2명이 참여한 것으로 알려졌다.

탈북자인 이민복 씨는 지난해 10월 10일에도 같은 지역에서 대북전단을 살포해 북한군이 고사총 10여발을 사격하는 빌미를 주기도 했다.

일각에서는 최근 북한이 대남비난을 자제하는 등 남북대화 분위기가 고조되는 상황에서 대북전단 살포는 남북관계 개선에 악영향을 줄 수 있다고 우려했다. (연합뉴스)
Emailyistory@koreatimes.co.kr Article ListMore articles by this reporter









 
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