Kim Yo-jong, First Deputy Director of the Workers' Party, Issues Statement
"If No Action Taken, Kaesong Industrial Complex and Liaison Office Will Also Be Closed"
"Will See Harsh Consequences and Worst-Case Scenario" Warning
Kim Yo-jong, First Deputy Director of the Workers' Party and younger sister of North Korean State Affairs Commission Chairman Kim Jong-un
Kim Yo-jong, the first deputy director of the Workers' Party and younger sister of North Korean State Affairs Commission Chairman Kim Jong-un, expressed displeasure over the distribution of leaflets to North Korea by defectors and even mentioned the possibility of terminating the inter-Korean military agreement. She referred to the defectors as "trash" and demanded that South Korean authorities crack down on their freedom of expression.
In a statement released on the 4th through the Korean Central News Agency, Kim Yo-jong said, "If the South Korean authorities fail to take appropriate measures, they must be fully prepared for the cancellation of the Kumgangsan tourism, the complete dismantling of the Kaesong Industrial Complex, the closure of the inter-Korean joint liaison office, or the nullification of the meaningless inter-Korean military agreement."
She emphasized, "If the South Korean officials truly value the inter-Korean agreements and are determined to thoroughly implement them, they should first properly clean up the filth within their own house before blowing the trumpet of 'response' to us."
Throughout the statement, she openly expressed her displeasure toward the defectors. She said, "Those fools who barely manage to read letters and recklessly propose to discuss the 'nuclear issue' are like a village dog barking at poetry," and "Those human scum who betrayed their motherland and are worse than wild beasts, trying to imitate humans, are nothing but mangy dogs barking with foul-smelling mouths."
Kim Yo-jong also urged South Korean authorities to impose legal restrictions on defectors.
She stated, "Before making pitiful excuses, they should enact laws to stop the clownish acts of that trash and firmly take measures to prevent such unpleasant incidents from happening in the first place," and warned again, "Let me make it clear: if they make more excuses and let this continue as it is, the South Korean authorities will have to pay a harsh price."
She added, "They cannot claim ignorance of the Panmunjom Declaration and the military agreement clauses that prohibit all hostile acts such as leaflet distribution near the Military Demarcation Line," and said, "On the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the June 15 (Inter-Korean Joint Declaration), if such acts are left unchecked as 'individual freedom' or 'freedom of expression,' South Korea must prepare for the worst possible situation soon."
The North Korean defector organization, the Free North Korea Movement Alliance, announced on the 1st that on the 31st of last month, they sent 500,000 leaflets titled "Kim Jong-un Threatens to Launch New Strategic Nuclear Weapons," 50 booklets, 2,000 one-dollar bills, and 1,000 memory cards (SD cards) attached to 20 large balloons from Wolgot-ri, Seongdong-ri, Gimpo City, flying them toward North Korea.The photo shows the defector organization distributing leaflets to North Korea.
The statement specifically pointed to the leaflet distribution by defector groups on the 31st of last month.
At that time, the defector group Free North Korea Movement Alliance sent 500,000 leaflets, 50 booklets, 2,000 one-dollar bills, and 1,000 memory cards attached to large balloons from Gimpo to North Korea.
The leaflets included phrases such as "Hypocrite Kim Jong-un who threatens to take shocking actions with new strategic nuclear weapons at the 7th Central Military Commission's 4th meeting."
Kim Yo-jong personally issuing a statement about the defectors' leaflet distribution and North Korea publishing it in the Rodong Sinmun, which is read by the entire population, is interpreted as a sign that the issue is being taken very seriously.
Furthermore, the publication in Rodong Sinmun is also seen as an internal warning that defectors will not be tolerated.
Meanwhile, the Free North Korea Movement Alliance has planned to distribute another one million leaflets to North Korea to mark the 70th anniversary of the Korean War, drawing attention to what measures the government will take.
It is generally assessed that even if pro-North groups carry out leaflet distribution, it is difficult to legally punish them.
Lee Min-bok, head of the North Korean Balloon Team at the North Korean People Direct Aid Movement Headquarters, filed a lawsuit against the state in 2015 for damages after being restrained by police during leaflet distribution activities.
At that time, the first trial court ruled, "Leaflet distribution to North Korea is an exercise of freedom of expression and, in principle, cannot be restrained. However, if there is a possibility of causing serious danger to the lives and bodies of citizens, restraint is not illegal unless it is excessively restrictive," and ruled against the plaintiff.
The court found no government liability for compensation but also recognized the importance of "freedom of expression," a ruling that was upheld by the Supreme Court.
There is no legal basis in the Inter-Korean Exchange and Cooperation Act to regulate the act of leaflet distribution to North Korea itself.
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