Yonhap News: South Korea Mulls Projects to Help North Koreans Access Outside Information

South Korea is ranked the world’s 11th largest economy while its neighbor to the north, isolated and poor, does not rank among the top 100. The free flow of information and news contributes to economic growth and development, and South Korea is making plans for a foundation to improve human rights in North Korea and push projects that help North Koreans access outside information. But activists may disagree about what news to distribute and how. For example, the plan will not support activists who send up anti-government leaflets in balloons, including news about the recent assassination of the North Korean dictator’s brother. “North Korea is sensitive to Seoul activists' move to send anti-Pyongyang propaganda leaflets and does not want ordinary North Koreans to know the truth about its repressive regime,” reports Yonhap News Agency. “The leaflet campaign is one of the main sources of tension between the two Koreas.” South Korea approved establishing a foundation to study and promote human rights for North Korea, but detailed plans and board members have yet to be selected. News of the outside world is a security challenge for North Korea. – YaleGlobal