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Activist in S.Korea sends ‘The Interview’ DVDs to N.Korea

April 7, 2015

North Koran defectors release balloons carrying leaflets condemning North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and his government's policies, in Paju, near the border with North Korea, South Korea, Friday, Oct. 10, 2014. The activists launched balloons carrying about 200,000 anti-North Korea leaflets over the border on Friday when North Korea marks the 69th anniversary of the founding of the ruling Workers' Party. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

FILE – The North last year opened fire after activists launched balloons toward the North. Seoul says the activists are exercising free speech. (AP)

“The Interview” poster.

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — A South Korean activist said he launched balloons carrying thousands of DVDs of a movie depicting a plot to assassinate North Korean leader Kim Jong Un across the border into North Korea.

Lee Min-bok said Wednesday that he had launched balloons carrying “The Interview” four times from South Korean border towns, most recently on Saturday. Lee says his balloons also contained bundles of dollar bills and political leaflets criticizing Kim’s government and highlighting South Korea’s economic prosperity in hopes of inspiring North Korean people to resist the leadership in Pyongyang.

North Korea considers leaflets an attack on its government and has long demanded that South Korea ban activists from sending them. The North last year opened fire after activists launched balloons toward the North. Seoul says the activists are exercising free speech.

But the South Korean government recently urged anti-Pyongyang activists to refrain from flying propaganda balloons into North Korea, saying such activities could worsen relations between the countries and put villagers in South Korean border towns at risk.

Lee said he will continue to try to send the balloons into North Korea, saying the leaflets are an important source of outside information for North Koreans that could increase any demands for change.

Lee said he didn’t particularly enjoy “The Interview,” saying some scenes were too vulgar, but added it would be meaningful for North Koreans to see the worshipped Kim assassinated on screen.