The Family Assembly Abducted to North Korea, a group representing families of abductees, received a consolation call from a high-ranking government official, who noted that they would consider halting the distribution of leaflets to North Korea.
According to Yonhap News on the 24th, Choi Seong-ryong, the representative of the Family Assembly Abducted to North Korea, said after a memorial service for the 75th anniversary of the Korean War at the Belgium-Luxembourg War Memorial in Dongducheon, Gyeonggi Province, that he received a comforting contact from a high-ranking government official yesterday and had positive discussions over a meal, stating, "As promised, we will discuss with the victim families and decide on whether to stop the distribution of leaflets to North Korea and announce our position."
He continued, "Current government officials understand the issue of abductees better than anyone and have provided much assistance in the past," adding, "I hope this government will create an opportunity to confirm the lives of abducted families through inter-Korean dialogue."
Regarding the reason for the memorial service held in Dongducheon that day, Choi explained, "Access to major border areas like Paju, Yeoncheon, Incheon Ganghwa, and Gangwon has become difficult due to the leaflet distribution, and I considered that my father was from the Kelly Unit."
Choi's father was abducted during fishing operations near Yeonpyeong Island in the West Sea in 1967 and had a history of serving in the Kelly Unit, a non-regular special forces under the U.S. military during the Korean War. He is believed to have been executed in North Korea in 1972.
The Family Assembly Abducted to North Korea plans to clarify its official position on whether to halt leaflet distribution after internal discussions by the 10th of next month, the deadline for reporting rallies. There is also a possibility that a declaration to stop the leaflets will emerge that day.
The group previously stated at a press conference in front of the Government Seoul Building on the 16th that "if we treat the grandmothers of abductee families to a meal and convey our sincere condolences, we will stop the leaflet distribution."
The Family Assembly Abducted to North Korea has distributed leaflets to North Korea in various ways, including balloons and drones, at locations such as Imjingak in Paju on April 27, Cheorwon in Gangwon on May 8, and border areas in Paju on June 2.
The government has deployed police mobile units to major border areas and is blocking leaflet distribution in accordance with President Lee Jae-myung's directive for strict actions against North Korean leaflets, and is also reviewing related legislative amendments.