Families of abductees send anti-North flyers again despite gov't plea

GIMPO, South Korea, Nov. 20 (Yonhap) -- Families of South Koreans abducted by
North Korea continued to send balloons carrying anti-communist flyers near the
inter-Korean border Thursday, despite the government's warning a day earlier.
Ten representatives of the families launched 100,000 leaflets attached to ten
balloons, shouting, "Release the abductees!" The balloons were sent from
Wolgotmyeon in the city of Gimpo, west of Seoul,
In a written statement printed on the leaflets, the families demanded the release
of 487 South Korean abductees, including 436 fishermen. The leaflets also
included recent news reports speculating that North Korean Kim Jong-il suffered a
serious illness.
The families, who earlier this month flew 10,000 similar leaflets after sending
40,000 last month, denounced the South Korean government's decision on Wednesday
that it would take a tough position on their activities.
"We have been sending these leaflets for the last five years, in order to let the
North Korean people know the real facts about their regime. Why now is it
becoming an issue?" said Park Sang-hak, a co-representative of the association of
abductees' families.
The Unification Ministry announced Wednesday that it will deal more stringently
with civic groups who send anti-communist flyers to the North.
North Korea has been demanding that Seoul take immediate action to halt the
dispersing of propaganda leaflets, threatening to sever all ties with the South.
In an apparent protest, Pyongyang announced last week it will strictly control
border crossings starting from Dec. 1.
The move could paralyze the two Korea's joint industrial complex in the North's
border town of Kaesong.
The two Koreas agreed in 2004 to halt propaganda warfare, which had involved
floating leaflets and blasting loud speakers across the heavily armed border.
North Korea kidnapped hundreds of the South Korean 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.
ygkim@yna.co.kr
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