美 정계•北 인권보고관, 대북전단금지법 우려 표명...정부 "국민 생명•안전 보호" 적극 반박
U.S. politicians and international human right activists have expressed concern over the law that bans sending anti-North Korea leaflets across the border,... which was passed earlier this week in South Korea.
In response, Seoul's unification ministry says the leaflets pose a grave threat to people's lives in the South.
Yoon Jung-min reports.
U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun has reportedly expressed concern over South Korea's law to ban the practice of floating balloons with anti-regime leaflets into North Korea.
An article by the Washington Post said Biegun privately conveyed the Trump administration's concerns about the legislation during his trip to Seoul last week.
The law, which was passed at the National Assembly early this week, stipulates punishing those who send the leaflets with up to three years in prison or a fine of up to 27-thousand U.S. dollars.
The VOA reported Friday that the bipartisan Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission at the U.S. Congress is going to convene a hearing on the issue when the new session begins in January.
And this week, U.N. special rapporteur Tomas Ojea Quintana said he hopes Seoul reconsiders the legislation before it goes into effect, citing freedom of expression.
Seoul's unification ministry was quick to respond to the UN rapporteur's remarks, saying the law was amended through a democratic procedure at the National Assembly that represents the consensus of public opinion.
On Thursday, Seoul's foreign minister Kang Kyung-wha said in an interview with CNN that freedom of expression can be limited if it poses a threat to people's lives, citing the UN International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
She added that the leaflets are being sent from a very sensitive area where South Korean people live near the border.
Yoon Jung-min, Arirang News.
