New Seoul Government Urges Halt to Anti-North Korea Leaflet Activities
Jun 10
2 min read
News Summary
The South Korean unification ministry, under the newly inaugurated administration, expressed regret and urged an immediate halt to a recent leaflet campaign by families of North Korean abduction victims—signaling a notable policy shift.
Despite a 2023 court ruling that deemed the anti-leaflet law unconstitutional, the ministry emphasized the need to comply with related regulations, citing concerns over heightened border tensions and public safety.
This stance reflects President Lee Jae-myung’s pledge to reduce tensions and suspend anti-North Korea activities as part of his inter-Korean engagement strategy.
Commentary
The recent move by the South Korean unification ministry marks a dramatic shift in inter-Korean policy under President Lee Jae-myung, signaling a return to the progressive playbook of engagement with Pyongyang.
Like his predecessors, Lee appears poised to prioritize conciliatory gestures—such as halting anti-North Korea leaflet campaigns—in the name of regional peace and stability.
Yet the core flaw in this approach remains unchanged: the focus continues to rest on appeasing the Kim regime rather than improving the wellbeing of the North Korean people.
The so-called “Sunshine Policy” has historically served to sustain the regime’s survival, while doing little to confront its systematic repression of its own citizens.
Despite Lee’s outreach, it is unlikely that Kim Jong Un will respond with readily, given North Korea’s current two-state policy toward the South. Kim still carries the humiliation of failed inter-Korean initiatives and collapsed summits with President Trump during the Moon administration. Kim also doesn't want South Korean culture to flow into his land.
We must not forget: true and lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula cannot be achieved by silencing criticism or shielding a dictatorship. It will only begin when the Kim regime—the root cause of suffering for millions—is finally brought to an end. And Lee's engagement efforts will not stop this end.
