These South Korean protesters are launching balloons to North Korea carrying thousands of leaflets. They are denouncing North Korea’s harsh punishment of dissidents in political prison camps where torture is common.

[Choi Ock-hee, North Korean Defector]:
"We have a deep resentment against North Korea over human rights issues. I think it's us who should help out the North Koreans who are dying in this massacre of the North. That's why we participated in this event."

This protest comes ahead of United States President Barack Obama’s visit to Seoul next week. The protesters say human rights abuses in the communist North are being ignored by the United States.

[Roh Seong-rae, Protest Leader]:
"I can't understand why they are ignoring North Korea's human rights issues. The United States has always talked about justice since the Obama administration took over office.”

The reclusive North has warmed up to the outside world in recent months… and indicated it may now return to international nuclear disarmament talks.