A court has ruled against a North Korean defector who sued the government for blocking the launch of anti-North Korea propaganda leaflet-filled balloons across the border.
 
The Uijeongbu District Court on Wednesday dismissed the case brought by the head of an activist group of North Korean defectors, surnamed Lee, who sought compensation for psychological damages from the government’s obstruction of the leaflet activities in June.
 
The court ruled that it was legitimate for the government to block the launch under circumstances deemed to risk the lives of its people, citing that the North shot at the balloons and continued threats of retaliation in October.
 
The plaintiff and organizer of the leaflet campaign, filed the suit against the government in June last year seeking 50 million won in compensation for violating the freedom of expression by blocking the leaflet activities.