Seoul: Police plan to dispatch mobile units to border areas to prevent activists from sending anti-North Korea leaflets across the border, the unification ministry announced Monday following a pan-government meeting aimed at curbing "illegal" leaflet campaigns.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the decision comes after President Lee Jae-myung instructed measures to prevent the launch of leaflets critical of North Korea and enforce penalties on violators, as part of efforts to improve strained relations with the North. Earlier, the unification ministry convened a meeting with relevant government agencies, including the National Security Council, the land and interior ministries, and the police agency, to discuss strategies to halt anti-Pyongyang leaflet activities.
The urgency of the meeting was underscored by a recent incident where a civic group launched balloons carrying leaflets toward North Korea, defying government warnings and raising safety concerns for residents in border areas due to potential military retaliation from the North. Participants "shared the assessment that it is the nation's important duty to promote peace on the Korean Peninsula and protect the lives and safety of residents in border areas," the unification ministry stated.
In response, police will deploy mobile units and regional police officers to critical border areas to deter leaflet launches, while regional judiciary police officers will intensify patrols in susceptible areas. The government also plans to consider amendments to relevant laws, including the Aviation Safety Act, to strengthen enforcement measures.
The unification ministry aims to collaborate with the National Assembly to revise the law banning leaflet launches ahead of the Aug. 15 Liberation Day. This initiative follows the ministry's earlier expression of "regret" over a leaflet launch by families of those abducted by North Korea and its strong appeal to cease such campaigns.
This marks a significant shift since the Constitutional Court's September 2023 ruling that the law banning leaflet campaigns is unconstitutional, emphasizing freedom of expression. Last year, the land ministry indicated that launching balloons weighing over 2 kilograms could breach the Aviation Safety Act regulating drone flights. Additionally, the Act on Disaster and Safety Management restricts unauthorized access to risk-prone areas, prompting Gyeonggi Province to designate certain border regions as such zones and enhance police patrols.
North Korea has historically opposed leaflet campaigns by defectors and conservative activists in the South, fearing that external information could undermine the Kim Jong-un regime. President Lee had pledged to cease both leaflet launches and military propaganda broadcasts along the border to reduce tensions and foster better relations with Pyongyang. Recently, South Korea's military halted its loudspeaker broadcasts, and North Korea reciprocated by stopping its loud noises targeting the South.