Taeyoungho Delivers Joint Letter to UK Foreign Secretary Expressing Concerns over 'North Korea Leaflet Act'

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] Tae Young-ho, a member of the People Power Party, is delivering a joint letter expressing concerns about the 'Law Prohibiting the Distribution of Leaflets to North Korea (Amendment to the Inter-Korean Relations Development Act)' to the UK Foreign Secretary.

On the 21st at 9 a.m. (local time), Tae announced that he, together with UK Member of the House of Lords Lord David Alton, will deliver a letter jointly signed by several parliamentarians and human rights activists, including Tae and Lord David Alton, to the UK Foreign Secretary.

The time corresponds to around 6 p.m. Korean time on the 21st.

The letter mentions Articles 4 and 25 of the law prohibiting leaflet distribution to North Korea and points out the 'ambiguity of the law,' which could lead to punishment if items such as leaflets, USBs, CDs, and Bibles are brought into North Korea through the North Korea-China border without approval from the South Korean government.

It concludes by expressing the hope that Dominic Raab, the UK Foreign Secretary, will voice his opinion on the leaflet prohibition law and, especially as a permanent member of the UN Security Council, urge the South Korean government to reconsider the passage of the bill.

Tae stated, "The amendment was passed at the plenary session of the National Assembly on the 14th, with the ruling party using its majority seats, despite pointing out the risks of broad interpretation, including the prohibition of bringing in items such as leaflets at the North Korea-China border, not just the military demarcation line area." He added, "Even now, President Moon Jae-in should exercise his veto power on the bill and recommend that the law comply with the principle of clarity."

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