Seoul: A South Korean civic group representing families of individuals abducted by North Korea announced on Tuesday that it is contemplating the suspension of distributing anti-Pyongyang leaflets across the border. Choi Seong-ryong, the leader of the group, stated that a positive communication was received from a high-ranking government official, prompting discussions with group members to determine the future of the leaflet campaign.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Choi had earlier declared that the group might consider halting the distribution if President Lee Jae Myung could provide confirmation regarding the fate of the abductees through dialogue with North Korea. Choi also emphasized the importance of the President meeting and offering comfort to the families, especially the elderly members in their 90s.
This year, the group has already engaged in leaflet distribution activities, launching anti-North Korean leaflets using balloons or drones from different border locations, including Imjingak in Paju on April 27, Cheorwon in Gangwon Province on May 8, and another area in Paju on June 2. However, the current government has expressed intentions to revise existing laws and potentially block such activities from border areas.
Choi expressed optimism, stating, "The current government officials understand the abduction issue better than anyone else and they have helped us a lot in the past. I hope this government will definitely create an opportunity to confirm the life or death of the abduction victims through inter-Korean dialogue." He made these remarks while meeting with reporters after paying respects at the Belgium-Luxembourg War Memorial in Dongducheon, commemorating the 75th anniversary of the Korean War.
Choi's personal connection to the issue is profound, as his father was abducted in 1967 while fishing near Yeonpyeong Island in the Yellow Sea. He was executed in North Korea in 1972, allegedly due to his cooperation with the U.S. military during the Korean War.