[Summary] Defector Group to Fly Anti-North Leaflets in Gyeonggi and Gangwon from 25th to 29th

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] A defector group has distributed leaflets to North Korea for the first time since the enactment of the law banning leaflet distribution to North Korea.

On the 30th, Park Sang-hak, the representative of the Free North Korea Movement Alliance, said, "Between the 25th and 29th, we sent 10 large balloons carrying 500,000 leaflets, 500 booklets, and 5,000 one-dollar bills to North Korea twice from areas adjacent to the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) in Gyeonggi-do and Gangwon-do." This leaflet distribution was sponsored by Susan Solti, chairperson of the North Korea Freedom Coalition, a North Korean human rights organization based in the United States.

The Free North Korea Movement Alliance had announced that it would distribute leaflets around the end of this month. Representative Park said, "We have distributed leaflets to North Korea for 17 years during North Korea Freedom Week, and we will distribute them again this year, which marks the eighth year." He did not disclose the specific date and location, stating that these would be determined according to wind direction.

In response, the Ministry of Unification issued a statement to the press corps, saying, "The Act on the Development of Inter-Korean Relations (commonly known as the law banning leaflet distribution to North Korea) is a law to protect the lives and safety of residents in border areas, and we will implement it in accordance with its purpose."

The law banning leaflet distribution to North Korea, which has been in effect since last month, stipulates that broadcasting loudspeakers, posting visual materials, and distributing leaflets near the Military Demarcation Line can be punished by up to three years in prison or a fine of up to 30 million won.

Currently, intelligence authorities are identifying the exact location from which the leaflets were sent. An intelligence official said, "There is no evidence of leaflet distribution to North Korea, but we are searching for the distribution site considering the possibility that it occurred."

North Korea blew up the Kaesong Inter-Korean Joint Liaison Office, a symbol of the Panmunjom Declaration, in June last year, citing the distribution of leaflets by some defector groups as the reason.

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