Distribution of Materials on North Korea Leaflet Ban Law to Diplomatic Missions in Korea
'Concerns Over COVID-19 Spread in North Korea via Leaflets' Specified
Kwon Young-se: "Inappropriate Content Without Scientific Basis"
Unification Minister Kwon Young-se stated that he would "investigate internally" regarding the Ministry of Unification under the Moon Jae-in administration distributing explanatory materials on the law banning leaflets to foreign embassies in South Korea, which cited North Korea's unscientific claim that "COVID-19 virus could have been introduced into North Korea through leaflets."
Minister Kwon made this remark on the 21st during the plenary session of the National Assembly's Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee, responding to a related inquiry from Ha Tae-kyung, a member of the People Power Party, saying, "I have not yet confirmed the related details, but I plan to check."
Minister of Unification Kwon Young-se is giving a briefing on current issues at the Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee plenary meeting held at the National Assembly on the afternoon of the 21st. [Image source=Yonhap News]
Rep. Ha pointed out, "There is an official document stating that some defectors sent items contaminated with the COVID-19 virus to North Korea, causing the virus to spread there, but the North is making absurd claims," adding, "Even if contaminated, wouldn't the virus disappear during the flight, making it impossible to spread?"
Minister Kwon responded, "(That content) is scientifically baseless and inappropriate," and said, "I will first verify the circumstances."
Moon Administration Distributed Claims of 'Virus Spread' Without Evidence
According to a compilation of reports by Asia Economy, the Ministry of Unification distributed explanatory materials on the amendment to the Inter-Korean Relations Development Act, commonly known as the 'law banning leaflets to North Korea,' to foreign missions in South Korea in December 2020. At that time, there were 113 diplomatic missions in South Korea (currently 115), and it is estimated that materials were sent to 46 relevant missions, including the 'Korean Peninsula Club,' which concurrently serves as ambassadors to both Koreas, and the 'Pyongyang Club,' which has a separate mission in North Korea.
According to the explanatory materials obtained by this outlet, the Ministry of Unification wrote that along with the reasons for the law amendment, "Some defectors instigated the spread of COVID-19 into North Korea by sending COVID-19 contaminated goods, thereby causing a strong backlash from the North."
At that time, after the ruling party's landslide victory in the 21st general election, the National Assembly forcibly passed the law banning leaflets to North Korea, drawing criticism from the international community that it hindered efforts to improve North Korean human rights. To quell such public opinion, the Ministry of Unification's mention of the "possibility of COVID-19 spread through leaflets" was a unscientific claim, and it was revealed that until then, North Korea had never officially issued a statement linking leaflet distribution to virus spread.
Notably, earlier in June 2020, the Ministry of Unification had filed a police complaint against Park Sang-hak, head of the Free North Korea Movement, who distributed leaflets to North Korea. This action came six days after Kim Yo-jong, deputy director of the North Korean Workers' Party, threatened to nullify the military agreement if leaflet distribution was not stopped. At the time, a Ministry of Unification official explained in a closed briefing, "There are concerns that items flying into North Korea via leaflets may not have undergone quarantine."
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