South Korea on Friday reiterated that the government is not empowered to forcefully curb activists’ move to send anti-Pyongyang leaflets across the border.
But it stressed that such a controversial campaign should not threaten the safety and security of border-area residents, saying a related court ruling is in line with the government’s policy.
A day earlier, a local district court ruled that it is lawful for the authorities to stop a leaflet campaign feared to put the people at risk. It was dismissing an appeal raised by a North Korean activist.
Lee Min-bok, a high-profile leaflet activist, has filed a complaint with South Korea, claiming that the government should compensate for what he called “emotional stress” stemming from its prevention of his leaflet launch.
The Unification Ministry said that the government’s stance is in line with the court’s decision.
“The ruling showed that activists’ move to send anti-North Korean leaflets is an expression of the freedom of speech, but the government can curb it if the move threatens the safety of nationals,” Jeong Joon-hee, ministry spokesman, told a regular press briefing.
He said that the government plans to deal with the issue by taking into account both guaranteeing basic rights and protecting the safety of residents in a balanced manner.
North Korea is sensitive to Seoul activists’ move to send anti-Pyongyang propaganda leaflets on concerns that North Koreans can get to know the truth of its repressive regime. The leaflet campaign is one of the main sources of tension between the two Koreas.
In October last year, the North fired machine guns at balloons launched by activists. Some bullet rounds landed in the South’s territory, but no one was hurt. (Yonhap)
