SEOUL — In response to ongoing tensions, the Democratic Party (DP) of South Korea established a task force on Friday aimed at preventing the distribution of anti-Pyongyang leaflets across the border to North Korea. The party announced plans to introduce legislation to formally ban the practice, which has escalated regional tensions following North Korea's recent balloon propaganda campaigns.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the initiative seeks to address the anxieties and fears of residents in border areas by curtailing activities deemed provocative towards North Korea. During a ceremony at the National Assembly, Park criticized the government and ruling party's stance on freedom of expression, suggesting it overlooks the safety concerns of local citizens. The task force, led by Rep. Yoon Hu-duk, will explore all possible measures to prevent activists from continuing the leaflet distributions, which have historically included messages critical of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and the regime, often initiated by defectors and conservative groups in the South.