South Korea's new government seeks to de-escalate tensions with North

According to Yonhap News Agency, Kew Byung-Sam, spokesperson for South Korea’s Ministry of Unification, stated during a press briefing on Monday: “Despite our calls for restraint, we regret that a group of families of abductees protesting North Korea has, for the third time, sent propaganda leaflets via balloons.”

He added, “We strongly urge a halt to these actions, as they could escalate tensions on the Korean Peninsula and endanger the lives and safety of residents in border areas.”

Last week, these protesting families used four large balloons from the border city of Paju to carry out their third campaign of the year to send propaganda leaflets. The leaflets contained messages about the fate and return of seven alleged abductees, along with warnings to North Korea.

Kew noted that the Ministry of Unification, in collaboration with other government institutions, will work to enforce regulations prohibiting the sending of such leaflets.

This marks the first time the Ministry of Unification has called for a halt to such actions since South Korea’s Constitutional Court ruled in September 2023 that the law banning the sending of propaganda leaflets violated freedom of expression.

This sudden policy shift comes after the inauguration of South Korea’s new President, Lee Jae-myung. Lee has pledged to reduce tensions and resume dialogue with Pyongyang, including efforts to stop the sending of propaganda leaflets and the broadcasting of anti-North Korea slogans at the shared border between the two countries.