Paju City to Strongly Respond to Abductees' Family Association's Anti-North Korea Leaflet Launch

Arrest in Cooperation with Police and Gyeonggi Province Special Judicial Police
Implementation of Complaints, Reports, and Entry Bans

Paju City in Gyeonggi Province announced that it will mobilize all available administrative resources to strongly respond to the planned launch of anti-North Korea leaflets, in order to ensure the safety of citizens and to protect the recent atmosphere of reconciliation with North Korea. This statement comes as the Abductees' Family Association has announced its intention to set up a tent at Imjingak and distribute leaflets between June 16 and June 22.

Paju City Hall exterior. Provided by Paju City

On the morning of June 16 at 9:30 a.m., Paju City held an emergency countermeasures meeting presided over by Mayor Kim Kyoungil. In response to the Abductees' Family Association's announcement of its intention to launch anti-North Korea leaflets, the city reaffirmed its zero-tolerance policy, which includes: immediate arrest in cooperation with the police and Gyeonggi Province special judicial police upon confirmation of illegal items such as helium gas under current law; strengthening patrols around Imjingak and other areas; immediate filing of complaints and reports upon discovery of illegal acts; and, in cooperation with the provincial special judicial police, enforcing entry bans and removal orders for Choi Seongryong and other members of the Abductees' Family Association.

The city determined that further dialogue and compromise with the Abductees' Family Association, which carried out a surprise leaflet launch in the Paju area at midnight on June 2 and has again announced its intention to forcibly launch leaflets at Imjingak despite the government's request to stop, is no longer possible. Paju City plans to strictly hold them judicially accountable by applying all relevant laws, including the Framework Act on the Management of Disasters and Safety (hereinafter referred to as the Disaster and Safety Act), the Aviation Safety Act, and the High-Pressure Gas Safety Control Act.

Mayor Kim Kyoungil stated, "The act of launching anti-North Korea leaflets disrupts the peace of border area residents, which has only recently been restored following the suspension of loudspeaker broadcasts between the two Koreas. Furthermore, on June 13, President Lee Jaemyung, during his visit to Tongilchon, instructed strict measures against the launch of anti-North Korea leaflets. Therefore, we will ensure judicial accountability for such acts and mobilize all possible measures, including entry bans for members of the Abductees' Family Association, to prevent any further leaflet launches in Paju City."