Despite Government's Request for Restraint... Defector Groups Scatter Leaflets Over North Korea Overnight

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hye-min] A defector organization was arrested and then released by the police on charges of sending large balloons containing COVID-19 quarantine supplies to North Korea.

Park Sang-hak, head of the Free North Korea Movement Alliance, and four members attached quarantine masks, fever reducers, and leaflets criticizing North Korean State Affairs Commission Chairman Kim Jong-un to 20 large balloons near Wollong Station around 10 p.m. on the 1st, and sent them flying toward North Korea. The balloons also carried banners with phrases such as "Humanity condemns Kim Jong-un, who threatens a preemptive strike on the Republic of Korea with nuclear weapons."

Police, having obtained related information, tried to stop and persuade them at the scene, but they did not comply. The police arrested Park and his group on the spot on charges of obstructing official duties and violating the Inter-Korean Relations Development Act, investigated them, and then released them. The police plan to summon Park and others again for further investigation.

The organization had also sent masks and medicines attached to large balloons to North Korea in July and September. The Ministry of Unification requested domestic civilian groups to refrain from distributing leaflets to North Korea on the 23rd of last month.

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