Ministry of Unification: "USB Import at North Korea-China Border Not Subject to Anti-Leaflet Law"

"Leaflet Distribution in Third Countries Will Be Subject to Local Laws"

On the night of June 22, a balloon sent by a North Korean defector organization for leaflet distribution fell on June 23 in a nearby hill in Magok-ri, Seomyeon, Hongcheon-gun, Gyeonggi Province, and the police are collecting it.
The discovered balloon for leaflet distribution was 2 to 3 meters in size, with a photo of North Korean State Affairs Commission Chairman Kim Jong-un's family attached.

On the 14th, regarding the criticism that the Act Prohibiting the Distribution of Leaflets to North Korea (an amendment to the Act on the Development of Inter-Korean Relations), which passed the National Assembly, even bans the import of goods into North Korea via the North Korea-China border, the Ministry of Unification clarified on the 15th that "the simple act of delivering goods through a third country is not subject to this amendment."

The Ministry of Unification stated on the same day, "This amendment aims to regulate acts that distribute leaflets, etc., targeting an unspecified number of people in North Korea, which cause harm or serious danger to the life and body of our citizens."

The Ministry also added, "The distribution of leaflets to North Korea from a third country will primarily be subject to the laws and regulations of that country," and "there will be no occasion for this amendment to apply."

Meanwhile, a domestic media outlet reported concerns both domestically and internationally about the passage of the Act Prohibiting the Distribution of Leaflets to North Korea, stating, "Bringing USBs containing Korean dramas or music into North Korea through the North Korea-China border without permission, or handing over goods to North Koreans in a third country, could also be subject to punishment."

Earlier, on the 13th, Tae Young-ho, a member of the People Power Party who filibustered against the Act Prohibiting the Distribution of Leaflets to North Korea, claimed, "In short, this law is a malicious law that aims to completely block the supply of daily necessities to North Korean residents through third countries such as China, that is, to be loyal to Kim Jong-un and Kim Yo-jong and starve the North Korean people."

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