Unification Ministry "Deep Regret Over North Korea's Leaflets Toward South... Immediate Halt Demanded" (Comprehensive)

Strong Protest Against North Korea's Announcement of 'President Moon Defamation Leaflets'
Government: "No Help to Korean Peninsula Peace and Inter-Korean Relations Development"

North Korea is actively preparing for a large-scale leaflet (propaganda leaflet) distribution targeting South Korea, according to a report by the Korean Central News Agency on the 20th. The image shows a cigarette butt being thrown onto a "leaflet" featuring President Moon Jae-in holding a cup and drinking something, with the phrase "You've eaten it all... even the inter-Korean agreement" written on it.

On the 20th, the Ministry of Unification expressed deep regret and immediately called for the cessation of North Korea's announced plan to distribute anti-South propaganda leaflets targeting President Moon Jae-in.

In a statement titled "Government Position on North Korea's Preparation for Distribution of Anti-South Leaflets," the Ministry said, "It is very regrettable that North Korea announced plans to distribute a large-scale batch of anti-South propaganda leaflets through media today, and we demand an immediate halt."

The Ministry emphasized, "Such actions by North Korea are a clear violation of inter-Korean agreements and not a measure to resolve the wrong practices between the two Koreas but rather an action that worsens the situation, providing no help to peace settlement on the Korean Peninsula or the development of inter-Korean relations."

The Ministry pointed out that the government is strongly responding to the distribution of leaflets by domestic civilian groups.

"Our government has declared a strong stance against the distribution of leaflets and materials to North Korea by some civilian groups," the Ministry stated, adding, "The government, police, and local governments in border areas are cooperating to thoroughly crack down to completely block any distribution activities."

It further added, "We are taking all measures to strictly punish related groups for violating domestic laws to prevent recurrence of such acts."

Meanwhile, the Ministry stressed, "North Korea should also stop further aggravating actions and engage in efforts for peace on the Korean Peninsula and the development of inter-Korean relations."

On the 20th, the Korean Central News Agency reported that North Korea is undertaking preparatory work for a large-scale leaflet distribution campaign targeting South Korea.

Meanwhile, North Korea announced plans for a large-scale distribution of anti-South propaganda leaflets and stated, "Only after experiencing it once will you truly understand how unpleasant it feels."

In an article titled "Full-scale Promotion of Preparations for Large-scale Anti-South Leaflet Distribution Struggle as an Outburst of Intensified Anti-Enemy Will," published by the North Korean state media Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on the morning of the same day, it was reported that "Our people's retaliatory holy war has moved on to the anti-South leaflet distribution struggle that punishes the sinful crowd," and preparations for large-scale distribution are underway across various regions.

The agency stated, "Publishing organizations are printing enemy leaflets to indiscriminately heap on South Korean authorities who have mocked the hopes and expectations of the entire nation contained in inter-Korean agreements over the past two years with deceitful rhetoric."

It continued, "Documents denouncing and accusing the South Korean authorities, who have ruined inter-Korean relations and lost public support by following a pro-American line, are piling up like mountains," and "Young students at universities at all levels are fully prepared to carry out large-scale leaflet distribution struggles once the opening and access to inter-Korean border areas are approved."

The agency asserted, "Crime inevitably leads to punishment. Since they have done what they have done, they must receive it in return, and only after experiencing it once will they truly understand how unpleasant it feels," adding, "South Korean authorities will face truly difficult times."

Amid escalating tensions between the South and the North, with North Korea announcing the demolition of the Kaesong Inter-Korean Joint Liaison Office and the resumption of military exercises, a K9 self-propelled howitzer is on standby at a South Korean military base in the border area of Paju, Gyeonggi Province on the 18th.
Photo by Kim Hyun-min, Paju kimhyun81@

On the same day, KCNA also released several photos on its website showing residents wearing masks while printing and organizing anti-South leaflets.

North Korea revealed a photo showing a pile of leaflets with a superimposed phrase on President Moon Jae-in’s face holding a cup that reads, "You’ve eaten it all... even the inter-Korean agreement," onto which cigarette butts and trash were carelessly thrown, clearly demonstrating an intention to defame President Moon.

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