Kim Hong-gul "I have family in North Korea, additional leaflet drops? My suspicion"

Rep. Kim: "Law Needed to Ban Distribution of Leaflets to North Korea"

On the morning of January 7th, at the Press Center in Jung-gu, Seoul, Kim Hong-gul, the Standing Chairman of the National Council for Reconciliation and Cooperation, is speaking at a press conference titled "Resumption of North Korea-US Dialogue and Urging the Easing of Sanctions on North Korea."
[Photo by Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kim Bong-ju] Kim Hong-gul, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, criticized some North Korean defector groups that announced additional leaflet distribution to North Korea despite the government's intention to enact a law banning the distribution of leaflets to North Korea.

On the 12th, Kim posted on his Facebook, "Residents in the border areas strongly oppose this, and the safety of families of defectors remaining in the North could be endangered, yet those who insist on reckless leaflet distribution and the forces protecting them cannot be free from suspicion regarding their true intentions," he criticized.

Kim also shared an article stating that civic groups in Goyang and Paju, Gyeonggi Province, are considering ways to prevent leaflet distribution by defector groups.

Kim emphasized that leaflet distribution to North Korea is effectively contact with the North and must obtain approval from relevant authorities. He appeared on MBC Radio's 'Kim Jong-bae's Focus' that morning and stressed, "A law banning leaflet distribution to North Korea is necessary."

He said, "By revising the law, sending diagnostic materials, releasing balloons or drones to send supplies are all essentially contact with North Korea, so the procedure of reporting to and obtaining approval from the Ministry of Unification must be followed."

Kim added that he is not suggesting creating a separate law banning leaflet distribution to North Korea but rather including the relevant provisions in the Inter-Korean Exchange and Cooperation Act.

When asked by the host, "What do you think about criticisms that this suppresses freedom of expression?" Kim replied, "Four years ago, the court already ruled that freedom of expression can be partially restricted to protect public safety and national security, and everyone knows that freedom of expression is not unlimited in a common-sense way."

Regarding the cold atmosphere between South and North Korea, Kim said, "It is not only because of the leaflets but also due to various accumulated issues since the breakdown of the Hanoi summit," adding, "Suddenly making various proposals or appeasing North Korea does not solve everything." He continued, "Since the Korean Peninsula issue concerns us as the parties involved, I think it is necessary to firmly declare that we will take the lead in resolving it in the international community."

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