”North Korea has complained about fliers distributed by activist groups here that criticize its regime since August last year, and when we asked for evidence it sent us the fliers via liaison officers on Aug. 10,” said Hwang Ha-soo, assistant minister in the ministry’s office for inter-Korean dialogue. They were distributed in the North by the Democracy Network Against a North Korean Gulag and the North Korea Christian Association and “primarily contained criticism of the North Korean regime and its leader, he said. “Such behavior by a handful of civic groups goes against an inter-Korean agreement and we are deeply sorry about it,” he added. “Domestic law does not ban such activities, but we urge them to stop immediately because they may strain the inter-Korean relationship.”

The two Koreas agreed to stop all propaganda activities including broadcasts, posts and fliers near the demilitarized zone at a meeting of generals from both sides on June 4, 2004. Hwang said North Korea has adhered to the agreement so far.

But the manager of the Democracy Network Against North Korean Gulag, Park Sang-hak, said the Unification Ministry “should be grateful” to the civic groups and offer information about South Korea to North Koreans. “We don’t care about an agreement between government officials of the two Koreas and will continue sending the fliers to North Korea in the future”, Park added.

(englishnews@chosun.com )