＜Inside North Korea＞ Leaflets Reach Northernmost Ryanggang Province, Causing Lockdown and Confusion - 300km from South Korea... Who Did It?

It has been reported that leaflets reached Baekam County in Ryanggang Province in September 2024, located in North Korea's northernmost region, causing confusion that led to the area being locked down.

According to a reporting partner living in Ryanggang Province in early October 2024, the leaflets arrived in September. After being discovered and reported to authorities, the Ministry of Social Security (police) blocked off access to the surrounding mountains and deployed selected Workers' Party members to collect the leaflets.

While various South Korean civic groups frequently send balloons carrying leaflets to North Korea to share outside information, the source and content of these particular leaflets remain unclear. Baekam County is a cold highland region with over 90% forest coverage and is located nearly 300km from the military demarcation line with South Korea. The possibility that they were launched from China, which is only dozens of kilometers away, cannot be ruled out. Leaflets reaching Ryanggang Province is reportedly a rare occurrence.

The reporting partner said, "The authorities made the person who first discovered and reported the leaflets sign a pledge stating that any disclosure would be considered an anti-socialist act."

The Kim Jong-un regime has been strengthening its vigilance against information inflow from South Korea, including incoming leaflets. (By KANG Ji-won)

※ ASIAPRESS communicates with its reporting partners through Chinese cell phones smuggled into North Korea.