The Turning Point in the South-North Leaflet War Today

Reference photo.

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu Reporter] The leaflet distribution war between South and North Korea is expected to reach a critical point on the 23rd. Since the rainy season is forecasted in both regions starting tomorrow, if leaflets are not distributed on this day, it will only be possible again after the weekend this week.

On this day, a military official said, "The most important condition for distributing leaflets to North Korea is the weather," adding, "This afternoon, before the rain comes, is the most likely time to distribute leaflets."

According to the Korea Meteorological Administration forecast, as of 9 a.m. on this day, a north wind is blowing around Ganghwa-gun in Gyeonggi Province and Yanggu-gun in Gangwon Province. The wind speed is 3 km/h, which is considered suitable for North Korea to distribute leaflets to the South. There is also a high possibility that North Korea will disguise as civilians on fishing boats near the Northern Limit Line (NLL) in the West Sea during the blue crab fishing season to distribute leaflets. It is known that about 150 North Korean fishing boats are currently active near the NLL in the West Sea. As the number of North Korean fishing boats increases, the activities of North Korean patrol boats are also more active, so there is a constant possibility of clashes between South and North Korean naval vessels during actual leaflet distribution.

On the other hand, in Yeoncheon-gun and Paju-gun in Gyeonggi Province, a south wind is blowing. The wind speed is 2.5 km/h, so the possibility of defectors' groups distributing leaflets to North Korea cannot be ruled out. The Korea Meteorological Administration expects the wind to strengthen from the afternoon.

The defector group Freedom Korea Movement Union claimed to have distributed leaflets to North Korea in Paju, Gyeonggi Province, the previous night. Park Sang-hak, the representative of the Freedom Korea Movement Union, said, "Between 11 p.m. and midnight on the 22nd, we sent leaflets to North Korea from Deogeun-ri, Wollong-myeon, Paju City," adding, "We distributed leaflets in a very dark place to avoid police surveillance." According to Park, six members of the Freedom Korea Movement Union attached 500,000 leaflets titled "The Truth of the 6.25 Atrocity," 500 booklets titled "The Real Brave Nation Republic of Korea," 2,000 one-dollar bills, and 1,000 SD cards to 20 large balloons and distributed them.

While the police have activated a 24-hour security system in the border area to prevent leaflet distribution to North Korea, the police and military have not confirmed the leaflet distribution by these groups. A military official said, "No leaflet distribution activities were observed in the units near the distribution area." A police official also added, "Nothing has been confirmed yet."

In this regard, the Democratic Party of Korea reiterated its call to the government to use public authority to stop the leaflet distribution to North Korea. Cho Jung-sik, the chairman of the Policy Committee, said at the party floor meeting, "If leaflet distribution is forced, strong compulsory investigation and legal responsibility must be imposed," and "We ask the government and military authorities to establish a thorough North Korea monitoring system and prepare fully."

On the North Korean side, if the weather is unfavorable, it is expected that loudspeakers directed at the South will be reactivated. It has been confirmed that North Korea has been reinstalling loudspeakers in the frontline area since the afternoon of the 21st. The loudspeaker reinstallation is known to be taking place in several locations around the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ).

North Korea previously operated loudspeakers in about 40 locations in these areas, so it is expected to install about 20 more. The loudspeaker broadcasting facilities aimed at North and South Korea installed in the Military Demarcation Line area were dismantled according to the April 27, 2018 Panmunjom Declaration. However, with the reinstallation work taking place after about two years since dismantling, it is expected that North Korea's slander and propaganda activities through loudspeaker broadcasts will intensify in the DMZ area.