Seoul
South Korea's Unification Ministry met with key government agencies on Monday to discuss ways to stop anti-North Korea leaflets from being sent across the border and to enforce related laws. This comes after President Lee Jae-myung ordered action to prevent what he called illegal launches of such leaflets, aiming to ease tensions with Pyongyang.
The meeting included officials from the Prime Minister’s Office, the intelligence agency, and the interior ministry. It focused on preventing future leaflet launches and punishing violators under existing laws, such as the Aviation Safety Act and the Disaster and Safety Management Act. Areas near the North Korean border—Paju, Gimpo, and Yeoncheon—have already been marked as high-risk zones with increased patrols.
Earlier, the unification ministry expressed regret over a recent leaflet launch by families of North Korean abductees, urging them to stop. The request marked a shift in tone since South Korea’s Constitutional Court ruled in 2023 that the previous leaflet ban violated free speech.
Despite government warnings, the families of abductees have vowed to continue their campaign unless the president meets with them and commits to resolving the abduction issue.
North Korea has long opposed these campaigns, fearing they may expose its citizens to outside information. Critics in South Korea argue the leaflet launches raise tensions and put border residents at risk.
As part of his peace efforts, President Lee has also promised to stop military loudspeaker broadcasts along the border. South Korea ended the broadcasts on Wednesday, and North Korea followed by halting its own the next day.
