"Enactment of Prohibition Law" vs "Submissive to Buk" Conflict Between Ruling and Opposition Over 'Anti-North Leaflet Distribution'

North-South Relations Cool Due to Defector Group's Leaflet Distribution to North Korea... Kim Tae-nyeon "Legislation for Distribution Ban"
Opposition Criticizes "Will Peace Be Maintained by Appeasement?"

Kim Tae-nyeon, floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is speaking at the floor countermeasure meeting held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, on the morning of the 9th. / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Lim Juhyung] Amid the rapid cooling of inter-Korean relations over the issue of leaflet distribution by North Korean defectors' groups, voices within the ruling party are calling for legislation to restrict the distribution of leaflets to North Korea. On the other hand, the opposition criticizes the government for "being unable to properly protest against North Korea and only trying to block the leaflets," signaling a continued confrontation in the political landscape.

Kim Tae-nyeon, floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, stated at the party's Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the morning of the 8th, "The distribution of harmful leaflets to North Korea must be stopped to protect the lives and safety of border areas and to maintain peace on the Korean Peninsula," adding, "Once the National Assembly's organization is completed, we will complete legislation to ban the distribution of leaflets to North Korea."

Kim emphasized, "The issue of leaflet distribution to North Korea is not a matter for political strife," and urged, "The opposition party should approach the leaflet issue responsibly, not just oppose for the sake of opposition."

He also pointed out, "Former President Park Geun-hye stopped leaflet distribution in March 2015 due to concerns over armed conflict," and added, "The United Future Party should not say otherwise just because it is now the opposition."

On the same day, Kim Hong-gul, a Democratic Party lawmaker who proposed the 'Amendment to the Inter-Korean Exchange and Cooperation Act' including restrictions on leaflet distribution to North Korea, appeared on CBS Radio's 'Sisa Jaki with Jung Kwan-yong' and explained the reason for proposing the bill, saying, "There is strong opposition from residents in the border areas regarding leaflet distribution," and "The council of local government heads is also requesting the Ministry of Unification to prepare government measures. We cannot disregard their opinions."

Within the ruling party, there were also calls to deploy military forces to prevent the distribution of leaflets to North Korea.

Jung Se-hyun, Senior Vice Chairman of the National Unification Advisory Council (former Minister of Unification), said on TBS Radio's 'Kim Eo-jun's News Factory' regarding the North Korean defector groups' announcement to distribute one million leaflets on the 25th, "It is problematic to choose the day the Korean War broke out to provoke such actions," and argued, "Police and military forces should be mobilized to prevent such incidents."

He added, "If our government strongly blocks the leaflet distribution and shows such a stance, the North Korean authorities will quietly let it pass."

Kim Jong-in, Emergency Response Committee Chairman of the United Future Party, is speaking at the Emergency Response Committee meeting held at the National Assembly on the 8th. / Photo by Yonhap News

However, the opposition criticized the government and ruling party for showing a weak attitude toward North Korea.

Kim Jong-in, Emergency Committee Chairman of the United Future Party, held a press conference after the party's emergency committee meeting on the same day and criticized the ruling party's move to push for a leaflet distribution ban law as an "unwise measure," saying, "It is good that the government itself decides not to send balloons to North Korea, but it is unwise to immediately respond when North Korea attacks that."

He continued, "Showing a submissive attitude to North Korea does not maintain peace," emphasizing, "We must be confident when we are confident."

Meanwhile, Hong Joon-pyo, an independent lawmaker, posted on his Facebook on the morning of the 9th, criticizing, "Is it really democracy under the Moon administration to make unreasonable demands to block sending correct information to a controlled society while legitimately criticizing the North Korean regime, and to hastily accept and legislate such a ban?" He also pointed out, "Didn’t Mayor Park Won-soon say that democracy means not punishing people even if they shout 'Long live Kim Il-sung' in Gwanghwamun?"

Meanwhile, North Korea's 'Korean Central News Agency' announced on the morning of the same day that it had decided to completely cut off and dismantle the communication lines between the Blue House and the Central Committee headquarters of the Workers' Party of Korea.

The agency explained, "We have reached the conclusion that there is no longer any need to meet or discuss with the South Korean authorities," and described it as "the first step in completely sealing off all contact spaces with the South Koreans and eliminating unnecessary things."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.