The Unification Ministry said Thursday that the South Korean government has not changed its stance regarding the release of the anti-Pyongyang leaflets by civic groups, but that it will take actions to protect the safety of its citizens.

Unification Minister Ryoo Kihl-jae made the remark Thursday during a plenary session of the National Assembly's Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee.

However, lawmakers criticized his statement that the government does not believe that the leaflets are related to the improvement of inter-Korean relations.
 
Lee Hae-chan of the main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy (NPAD) pointed out that the leaflet issue has even caused high-level inter-Korean talks to collapse.
 
Earlier Thursday, the committee adopted a resolution urging South and North Korea to abide by their agreements on suspending cross-border slander.
 
The resolution urged the South Korean government to take necessary actions to prevent the civic groups' activities from hampering inter-Korean relations and becoming a threat to the safety of residents near the border.
 
It also expressed deep regret over the North’s threats against the civic groups and urged Pyongyang to refrain from making provocative comments.