UN Responds to Governor Lee's Letter Calling for Support of Anti-North Korea Leaflet Distribution Ban Law... Lee Jae-myung "Welcomes Expression of Confidence"

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Park No-hun] Regarding the UN's recent response to a letter from Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung emphasizing the necessity of the "Anti-North Korea Leaflet Distribution Ban Law (Amended Inter-Korean Relations Development Act)," Governor Lee issued an official statement on the 4th expressing, "I welcome UN Secretary-General António Guterres expressing confidence in the implementation of this law."

In his statement, Governor Lee said, "The Office of the UN Secretary-General's Spokesperson immediately expressed confidence in the implementation of this law in response to an appeal calling for support for the Anti-North Korea Leaflet Distribution Ban Law from the perspective of the safety of the lives and bodies of residents in border areas and peace on the Korean Peninsula."

Governor Lee continued, "Thus far, we have devoted all efforts to protecting the safety, lives, and property of provincial residents, establishing peace, and preventing the distribution of leaflets to North Korea. The Anti-North Korea Leaflet Distribution Ban Law is a precious fruit of these efforts and represents the minimum institutional mechanism to guarantee provincial residents' constitutional rights including the right to life, bodily safety, and property rights in the reality of Korea's division."

Finally, Governor Lee stated, "As the head of a local government in a border area with the responsibility to guarantee the peaceful lives of Gyeonggi residents, I will fulfill my role to ensure that the Anti-North Korea Leaflet Distribution Ban Law, aimed at protecting lives and bodies, is implemented in harmony with freedom of the press."

On the 29th of last month, Governor Lee had sent official letters to the U.S. Congress and the UN in response to concerns voiced by some in the international community regarding the "Anti-North Korea Leaflet Distribution Ban Law (Amended Inter-Korean Relations Development Act)" and moves to hold hearings on it.

In his letter, Governor Lee stated, "The Anti-North Korea Leaflet Distribution Ban Law is a minimum mechanism to protect provincial residents' lives, safety, and property rights and represents a peaceful means to prevent unnecessary military tensions and confrontation and to improve strained inter-Korean relations."

In particular, he emphasized, "This law will be a first step in restoring trust between South and North Korea and restarting inter-Korean relations, which have been stalled for some time," and requested the understanding and support of the international community, including the UN, from the perspective of peace on the Korean Peninsula and the protection of the lives and safety of Korean Peninsula residents.

In response, the Office of the UN Secretary-General stated on the 1st through Radio Free Asia (RFA), "The UN is aware of the Amended Inter-Korean Relations Development Act and the domestic controversy surrounding it. We believe that the Korean authorities will implement this law while thoroughly complying with Korea's human rights obligations."

This response to Governor Lee's letter is interpreted as expressing a position respecting South Korea's autonomy and decision regarding the implementation of the Anti-North Korea Leaflet Distribution Ban Law, on the premise of compliance with "human rights obligations," a core value of democratic nations.

Beyond the UN, U.S. Congressman Chris Smith of the House, who had originally sought to hold hearings, as well as former Pacific Forum researcher Tom Coburn and others from domestic and international sectors have expressed their respective positions regarding Governor Lee's letter, generating heated responses. An international forum for discussion on the justification of the Anti-North Korea Leaflet Distribution Ban Law has been opened.

Local government heads from Northern Gyeonggi, which faces North Korea, including Uijeongbu Mayor An Byung-yong and Goyang Mayor Lee Jae-jun, have also successively issued statements expressing their deep empathy with Governor Lee's letter, adding support to the necessity of implementing the Anti-North Korea Leaflet Distribution Ban Law.