Incheon Civic Group Urges to Stop Sending Anti-North Korea Leaflets and Rice Threatening Citizens' Lives

North Korean Defector Group Announces Event on Seokmodo Island, Ganghwa on the 21st

Rice PET bottle found on the coast of Seokmodo, Ganghwa [Photo by Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyesook] Civic groups in the Incheon area have called for the immediate suspension of the planned leaflet distribution and rice-sending event by North Korean defector organizations scheduled for the 21st.

On the 19th, 18 civic groups including the Peace City Making Incheon Network, West Sea 5 Islands Peace Movement Headquarters, and Incheon Peace Welfare Solidarity issued a joint statement saying, "Some North Korean defector organizations are attempting to forcibly carry out rice-sending and leaflet distribution to North Korea on Seokmodo Island, Ganghwa-gun, Incheon on the 21st," and demanded the immediate cessation of all events, stating, "This situation threatens not only the residents of Ganghwa Island but also the lives of the people of the Republic of Korea."

The civic groups pointed out, "North Korea has repeatedly warned the South regarding the leaflet issue by defector organizations and ultimately carried out the demolition of the Kaesong Inter-Korean Liaison Office," adding, "The Panmunjom Declaration and the inter-Korean military agreement are now at risk of collapse, raising concerns that the clock of peace on the Korean Peninsula is running backward, affecting inter-Korean relations."

They continued, "Border area residents welcomed the April 27 Panmunjom Declaration and expected peaceful daily life, but defector organizations have continued hostile acts such as leaflet distribution," emphasizing, "Peace between the South and North is survival for border area residents and our people. If this event is forcibly carried out, Incheon City and the government must preemptively stop it for the safety of residents and peace on the Korean Peninsula."

Earlier, the defector organization 'Keunsam' announced plans to hold an event on the 21st at the coast of Seokmodo Island, Ganghwa-gun, sending rice-filled PET bottles to North Korea.

In response, Ganghwa-gun decided to designate two locations?Seokmodo Hangpo and Sahadong Wharf?where the event might take place as restricted areas under the Infectious Disease Prevention and Control Act.

Incheon City has also strongly requested four organizations planning leaflet and rice PET bottle distribution events to refrain from holding them. The city plans to treat leaflets falling on land as illegal and impose fines or other measures under the Outdoor Advertising Act.

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