North Korea rights activists see oppression in Seoul’s audit plans after leaflets controversy
- South Korea is looking into 25 non-profits focused on abuses in the hermit kingdom after cracking down on two that flew anti-Kim-regime leaflets across the border
- The NGOs feel the government is trying to muzzle criticism of Pyongyang for the sake of reconciliation, but others say their work undermines peace efforts
The South Korean Ministry of Unification has signalled plans to audit 25 non-profits working on human rights in North Korea, after last week revoking the licences of two defector-led organisations involved in the controversial practice of flying anti-Kim-regime propaganda leaflets across the heavily militarised border.
North Korea is a divisive and emotionally fraught issue in the South, where attitudes about how to best approach its unpredictable neighbour are often split along ideological lines. In an opinion survey carried out by Realmeter last month, 50 per cent of South Koreans said they would support a ban on leaflet drops across the border, compared with 41 per cent opposed.
North Korea vows to send millions of anti-South leaflets across the border
In a July 16 open letter, more than 20 non-profit organisations accused Seoul of launching an “unjustified and politically motivated” audit with the aim of “stifling the North Korean human rights movement, freedom of speech, and freedom of association in South Korea”.