Editor's note:  Gabriela Bernal is a Korean analyst and a PhD student at the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul, South Korea. The article reflects the author's opinions, and not necessarily the views of CGTN.

The ROK took action on July 17 to punish DPRK defector groups for sending anti-DPRK propaganda leaflets across the border. In an apparent attempt to appease its northern neighbor, the ROK's Unification Ministry revoked the operation permits of two DPRK defector organizations for "gravely hindering" efforts towards unification.

The move came a month after Pyongyang blew up the inter-Korean liaison office near its southern border to protest against the spreading of leaflets by defector groups. The leaflets are distributed across the border in hydrogen balloons and include information about the outside world, dollar bills, criticism of the Kim government, and USBs loaded with ROK and Western media, among other things.

Seoul's decision to punish the defector organizations has come as an unwelcome surprise to human rights activists, who claim the ROK is putting relations with the DPRK above the rights of its own citizens. These comments are, however, rather exaggerated and not entirely accurate.

Not only do the actions of these groups hinder the government's efforts at positive engagement with the North, but they also put the lives of ordinary people (including their own) at risk. ROK citizens living near the northern border are put in constant danger by the actions of such groups given their proximity to those groups' activities.

Moreover, the actions of such defector groups are also putting the lives of their own people in the DPRK at risk as they could potentially face execution if caught possessing or distributing the materials found in the balloons sent by these groups. Although the intentions of defector groups are good, they don't always have the desired effect.

Defector groups, like the ROK government, want to ultimately help DPRK citizens lead better lives. However, the only way this can happen effectively and last in the long-term is if both governments are able to consistently communicate, cooperate, and increase their trust levels. Without these basic pillars, the effect of these defectors' leaflets and balloons will be rather minimal.

Even if exposed to outside information, very few people in the DPRK are able to successfully leave the country and end up living in the ROK or elsewhere. Moreover, outside information, such as ROK dramas and American movies, have been making their way into the DPRK for a long time. It isn't a new phenomenon. Despite this, however, the political situation remains tense and the lives of ordinary DPRK citizens have not improved much at all.

This is why engagement at the higher levels is so important. How can there be active engagement between the two Koreans' citizens if communication between the two governments is not even taking place? It simply is not sustainable and any real, long-term change will only come through breakthroughs at the higher, political levels.

The current ROK administration understands this and is actively working to repair damaged inter-Korean ties. For example, ROK National Assembly Speaker Park Byeong-seug proposed talks with his DPRK counterpart to discuss ways to enhance peace and cooperation between the two countries.

"Let us (meet) to declare a commitment to peace on the peninsula and co-prosperity and find ways to institutionally back up inter-Korean relations," Park said. Although it's unlikely Pyongyang will immediately jump at the opportunity to resume talks with Seoul, it is at least a step in the right direction after the fiasco that went down last month.

There is far too much at stake for Seoul to allow a seemingly trivial act like leaflet spreading to be the cause of increased tensions on the peninsula. Granted, Pyongyang had various other reasons for committing the aggressive acts it did in June, but it certainly did not appreciate the anti-DPRK leafleting campaigns.

What may seem like a small gesture by Seoul can go a long way in beginning to repair strained inter-Korean ties. For now, it is too early to say what effect this recent decision by the Unification Ministry will have (if any), but it should be regarded as a responsible and necessary choice.

The ROK can't afford to please everyone at the cost of further damaging relations with the DPRK. This decision clearly shows Seoul's commitment towards engagement with Pyongyang and promoting peace, not tension, on the Korean Peninsula.

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