"Spraying the Sea" in 16 years...Coast Guard "will determine whether it is controlled"

[Anchor]
The spraying of leaflets against North Korea, which was canceled last month after opposition from border residents, is being carried out at sea this time.

It is the first time in 16 years since October 2008, and the Coast Guard said it will decide whether to leave the port based on regulations.

Reporter Park Hee-jae reports.

[Reporter]
On the rolling sea, a balloon full of paper rises into the sky.

Also, plastic bottles containing something are sprayed into the sea.

In October 2008, off the coast of the North Korean Haegeumgang River in Goseong, Gangwon-do,
It is the scene where the families of North Korean abductees and North Korean defectors' groups send leaflets to North Korea on vinyl and rice and $1 bills in plastic bottles.

Sixteen years later, similar naval spraying of leaflets against North Korea is being promoted again.

It has been about three weeks since the plan to spray leaflets to North Korea in Paju, Gyeonggi-do, was canceled after resistance from residents of the border area last month.

[Choi Seong-ryong / Head of the abductees' family gathering: Out of 516 abductees, 450 are fishermen. Because there are a lot of fishermen, I'm spending it at sea to have that meaning.]

The abductees' family group plans to visit Sokcho Coast Guard this afternoon (19th) to explain the spraying plan and discuss whether to leave the port.

In response, the Coast Guard said in a phone call with YTN that there is no law prohibiting the departure itself under the current regulations, but explained that if a fishing boat is used for other purposes, it should be inspected in advance by the relevant agency.

At the same time, if the meeting visits, it will consider the purpose of departure and explain the possibility of departure along with the current regulations.

I'm Park Heejae of YTN.

Video editing: Ma Young-hoo

Graphics: ImSat Star