US Expert: "If Korean Government Blocks Anti-North Leaflet Distribution, It Will Be Dragged Along by North Korea"

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[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] A U.S. expert has analyzed that the South Korean government's policy to prevent the distribution of leaflets to North Korea could create the misconception that North Korea's hardline stance toward the South is effective, potentially prompting North Korea to adopt even more adventurous hardline measures. The expert explained that if the South Korean government passively follows North Korea's hardline stance without significant opposition, the situation will only worsen.

On the 16th (local time), Doug Bandow, a senior researcher at the conservative U.S. think tank Cato Institute, wrote in an article for Foreign Policy that "the South Korean government's act of blocking private organizations from distributing leaflets to North Korea sacrifices citizens' basic rights and drives North Korea toward a more hardline response, which is a very cowardly act," warning that "if North Korea is given the misconception that its hardline stance toward the South works on South Korea, the situation will spiral out of control."

Researcher Bandow argued, "North Korea's claim that the leaflet issue has had a significant impact on inter-Korean relations is unfounded," adding, "Nevertheless, if the South Korean government hastily blocks leaflet distribution, North Korea will gradually escalate its provocations and continue to harass the South Korean government." He explained, "The real reason North Korea has taken a hardline stance is, as they have already stated, because U.S. and international economic sanctions against North Korea remain in place and negotiations with the U.S. are deadlocked."

He stated, "If the South Korean government responds very strongly to North Korea's arrogant behavior, Kim Yo-jong, who currently leads the hardline stance toward the South, would suffer a significant blow to her leadership. Moreover, if North Korea is criticized for the large difference between the behavior shown by the Kim siblings in the media two years ago and their current actions, North Korea would abandon its hardline stance and come to the negotiating table," and pointed out, "The South Korean government should not block the distribution of leaflets to North Korea but rather encourage the continued distribution of leaflets."

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