Pyongyang intensifies criticism of leaflet campaign

By Lee Min-hyung

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un recently visited a pharmaceutical factory in Pyongyang, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported on Saturday. The date of this film footage has not been released. / Yonhap

Despite growing threats of possible military provocation from Pyongyang, a group of North Korean defectors has released balloons carrying anti-Pyongyang propaganda leaflets.

The latest campaign, led by Seoul-based civic group Fighters for Free North Korea (FFNK), occurred late on Friday night. Without giving any public notice, balloons carrying 300,000 anti-North Korea leaflets were released near the border city of Paju, north of Seoul.

“The South will pay the price for ridiculing the North and blowing a chance to improve inter-Korean relations and achieve unification,” stated Minju Chosun, the North’s Cabinet newspaper, on Saturday.

The latest leaflet release came days after another defector group sent nearly 1 million balloons criticizing the North at another border city, Pocheon, in Gyeonggi Province, on Oct. 31.

“There was no conflict with residents in the area,” said Park Sang-hak, who represents the FFNK.

But concerns are growing over the North’s possible military provocation. The North recently stepped up its aggressive rhetoric after a series of leaflet campaigns.

“As we said earlier, there would be no inter-Korean talks or improvement in bilateral ties unless the South stops the leaflet campaign, which damages the North’s dignity,” said the regime’s official newspaper Rodong Sinmun.

Last Monday, ten groups of North Korean defectors told a press conference that they would secretly continue the leaflet campaign at border towns. Before the announcement, activist groups gave notice before flying leaflets. But the campaigns faced fierce criticism and opposition from border town residents.

The latest campaign was carried out in secret against this backdrop.

Border town residents have called for the government to halt the campaign, saying it endangers their lives.

But the government, for its part, claims it does not have the right to stop the campaign because it cannot violate people’s right to freedom of speech.