Ministry of Unification: "Regulating North Korea Leaflets by Law Is Not Desirable"

Kwon Young-se "Anti-North Korea Leaflet Law, an Absolute Evil Law"
Ministry of Unification "Regardless of Support or Opposition to Distribution, Legal Regulation is Problematic"

The Ministry of Unification reiterated its position that regulating the act of sending leaflets to North Korea by law is not desirable.

An official from the Ministry of Unification said on the 9th in a meeting with reporters, "The Ministry of Unification continues to request restraint regarding the sending of leaflets to North Korea," adding, "The Ministry has emphasized that it is not desirable to regulate the act by law when there are other alternatives."

Minister of Unification Kwon Young-se [Image source=Yonhap News]

This explanation follows Minister of Unification Kwon Young-se's interview with Voice of America (VOA) on the same day, where he stated, "The Anti-Leaflet Law is an absolutely bad law," and added, "The Ministry of Unification also submitted an opinion to the Constitutional Court declaring it unconstitutional. We will definitely abolish that legal provision when possible."

However, some point out that the government's stance on leaflet distribution to North Korea changes with each administration. In response, the Ministry of Unification official said, "We continue to request restraint from the relevant organizations," and added, "There are voluntary methods, and if necessary, there are other alternatives such as the Police Officers' Execution of Duties Act (besides the Anti-Leaflet Law)."

Regarding Minister Kwon's position expressed during his confirmation hearing before taking office?that he opposes leaflet distribution to North Korea but believes there are issues with laws that directly regulate or punish it?the official explained, "There has been no change."

Meanwhile, separate from the September 19 Military Agreement, which calls for a complete cessation of all hostile acts between the South and North, Article 24 of the Act on the Development of Inter-Korean Relations, commonly known as the 'Anti-Leaflet Law,' prohibits loudspeaker broadcasts, visual media (such as electronic billboards), and leaflet distribution directed at North Korea in the area near the Military Demarcation Line.

Earlier, at the end of last year, following North Korea's drone provocations, the Ministry of Unification began a legal interpretation under President Yoon Suk-yeol's directive to determine whether Article 24 would become invalid if the effectiveness of the September 19 Military Agreement were suspended. According to Article 23, Paragraph 2 of the Act on the Development of Inter-Korean Relations, the president may suspend the effectiveness of inter-Korean agreements for a set period if deemed necessary. The Ministry plans to review the invalidation of Article 24 should North Korea carry out provocations by invading South Korean territory again.

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