South Korea Sends Propaganda Leaflets to North Korea

(MENAFN) South Korea’s armed forces distributed propaganda leaflets to North Korea 23 times last year during the tenure of former President Yoon Suk Yeol, a lawmaker reported on Wednesday.

The disclosure, shared by ruling party representative Choo Mi-ae's office, is based on findings from a Defense Ministry probe, according to a news agency.

Yoon is currently under scrutiny for allegedly sending drones into North Korean territory to incite a response, which critics claim was used as a justification to declare martial law in December 2024.

In October 2023, the National Security Council gave the green light to resume leaflet operations, scheduled to run from February through November 2024, prior to Yoon’s unsuccessful attempt to impose martial law on Dec. 3.

This approval followed a Constitutional Court decision in September 2023, which struck down the ban on such campaigns as unconstitutional, citing freedom of expression. Leaflet distribution had been halted since July 2017.

Key officials, including then-Defense Minister Shin Won-sik and then-Unification Minister Kim Yung-ho, participated in the security council session authorizing the operations, though the precise rationale for the decision remains classified.

Following the council’s approval, the military’s propaganda division delivered leaflets to 35 designated locations, covering major cities like Pyongyang and Wonsan, along with several military installations, throughout February to November 2024.

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