Families of those abducted by N. Korea send anti-communist flyers

GOSEONG, South Korea, Oct. 27 (Yonhap) -- Families of South Koreans abducted by North Korea released balloons carrying anti-communist flyers near the inter-Korean border Monday, defying Pyongyang's warnings amid a tense political atmosphere.

Eight representatives of the families set out on a fishing boat in South Korea's
East Sea and flew 40,000 leaflets attached to dozens of balloons, also attaching
Chinese yuan and U.S. dollars.
In a written statement printed on the leaflets, which were made out of
water-resistant material, the families demanded the release of 487 South Korean
abductees, including 436 fishermen.
North Korea kidnapped those citizens in the decades following the 1950-53 Korean
War, according to the Unification Ministry. Officials estimate there are 540
South Korean prisoners of war still alive in the North. Pyongyang denies holding
any South Korean nationals against their will.
South Korea returned 63 unconvicted North Korean prisoners, mostly Korean War
prisoners or intelligence agents, as a sign of peace and reconciliation following
the first inter-Korean summit in 2000.
The two Koreas agreed in 2004 to halt propaganda warfare, which had involved
floating leaflets and blasting loud speakers across the heavily armed border.
But Seoul has so far been unsuccessful in persuading anti-Pyongyang groups to
stop spreading leaflets.
"We can see that releasing these flyers would worsen the relationship between the
two Koreas," said Choi Song-ryong, who leads the association of abductees'
families.
"However, we ask the South Korean people to understand that this is the only way
for the families of victims, as North Korea would not even confirm to us whether
the abductees are alive or not."
North Korea demanded earlier this month at a rare military meeting that Seoul
take immediate action to halt the dispersing of propaganda leaflets, threatening
to sever all ties with the South.
A coalition of South Korean companies at a joint industrial park in North Korea
also warned Sunday their businesses are being threatened by anti-Pyongyang
activists who continue to fly leaflets into the communist state.
"We are only demanding both Seoul and Pyongyang hold talks to resolve the
abductee and POW issues as soon as possible," Choi said.
The divided Koreas also agreed to stop defaming each others' governments through
media in a 2004 military meeting at Mount Sorak in South Korea. Despite the deal,
Pyongyang has heaped criticism on conservative President Lee-Myung bak, calling
him a "traitor" and a "U.S. sycophant."
ygkim@yna.co.kr
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