South Korea defends ban on anti-Pyongyang leaflets after ‘inane’ law slammed in US
- South Korea earlier this month banned activists from using helium-filled balloons to carry leaflets criticising North Korea across the border
- The practice has long been a source of conflict between the countries and activists now face the possibility of a fine or three years in prison
Senior South Korea’s politicians have moved to defend the government’s decision to criminalise anti-Pyongyang leaflet launches following stinging criticism from abroad over the new law.
Activists have for years used huge helium-filled balloons to carry leaflets criticising North Korea’s nuclear weapons programme and human rights record across the border, along with US dollars and USB sticks with information about world news.
“It is regrettable that some segment of the US Congress is mentioning the reconsideration of the new law,” Lee Nak-yeon, head of South Korea’s ruling Democratic Party, said on Monday. “Everyone should respect [South] Korean people’s rights to safety and the decision made by the country’s parliament.”
Lee, who is considered a contender for the 2022 presidential election, dismissed concerns about freedom of speech, insisting they were based on “misunderstanding and misinformation” and that the safety of South Koreans living near the border was paramount.