"Vegan Vice Minister Conveys Concerns Over Law Banning North Korean Leaflet Distribution During Visit to Korea"

Washington Post Columnist Citing Sources Claims
"Jeondan Act Sparks Backlash in Washington"
"Biden Should Advise Korea Not to Violate Freedom and Human Rights," Claims

[Asia Economy New York=Correspondent Baek Jong-min] It has been reported that Steven Biegun, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State, unofficially conveyed the U.S. administration's concerns regarding the law banning the distribution of leaflets to North Korea during his recent visit to South Korea.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Josh Rogin, a Washington Post (WP) columnist, revealed this in a column titled "South Korea's New Leaflet Ban Law Sparks Backlash in Washington," published on the 17th (local time).

Deputy Secretary Biegun visited South Korea from the 8th to the 11th, before the National Assembly passed the law banning the distribution of leaflets to North Korea (an amendment to the Inter-Korean Relations Development Act) on the 14th.

The U.S. State Department issued a press release regarding Biegun's visit to South Korea, but it did not mention the leaflet ban law.

Rogin pointed out in his column that the passage of the law is triggering backlash in Washington. Concerns are spreading that the South Korean government is sacrificing freedom of the press and human rights to appease Kim Jong-un, Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of North Korea.

Rogin stated, "President-elect Joe Biden will want to restore the U.S.-South Korea alliance damaged by President Donald Trump, but a good friend is one who tells you when you are making a mistake," adding, "If Biden wants to engage North Korea from a favorable position, he should encourage South Korea not to undermine the momentum for freedom, human rights, and peace."

In this context, Rogin also introduced opinions from Michael McCaul, the Republican ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Manpreet Singh, Asia-Pacific director of the National Democratic Institute (NDI), and Lynn Lee, Asia deputy director of the National Endowment for Democracy (NED).

McCaul issued a statement saying that this law could deepen the cruel isolation imposed on millions of North Korean residents by the North Korean dictatorship, and that "the bright future of the Korean Peninsula depends on North Korea becoming more like South Korea."

Sing said, "Criminalizing those who seek to promote information access to North Korean residents will cause irreparable harm to human rights advocates and embolden the North Korean regime to make more undemocratic demands."

Deputy Director Lee also expressed a negative view, stating, "For the broad North Korean human rights community, this law shows another attempt by the South Korean government to weaken the movement under the pretext of peace negotiations and inter-Korean dialogue."

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