This week, Fighters for a Free North Korea (FFNA) plan to send thousands of propaganda leaflets across the North Korean border by balloon, along with 10,000 copies of the Hollywood film The Interview – an unnecessary act of hostility.

“All the firepower strike means of the frontline units of the (Korean People’s Army) will launch without prior warning … to blow up balloons,” the North’s frontline military units said in a notice to the South, according to the state-run mouthpiece Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

The launch was to mark the five-year anniversary of the sinking of a South Korean warship in 2010, which resulted in the death of 46 sailors; but the launch date was pushed back a few days. The South pinned the blame on the North for the sinking of the warship and effectively froze trade and investment ties, according to AFP.

Although the North denies any involvement in the attack, the event was pushed in hopes that the North would apologize, according to the Los Angeles Times. This was a wise decision, as the North took offense to the idea of sending the balloons.

KCNA called the planned launch a “de facto declaration of war.”

Tensions between the Koreas have been boiling for years, and North Korea’s recent hostility shouldn’t be pushed.

North Korea’s previous threats of violence against the United States for the release of the film in December may have prompted theaters to withhold showings, but did not stop the movie’s ultimate release.

North Korea has not yet taken military action against the United States for releasing The Interview, but sending 10,000 copies of it across the border is an act too bold.

Pyongyang has long condemned such balloon launches and threatened retaliation. Local residents have complained the activists are putting their lives at risk by making them possible targets, according to Voice of America News.

Although I advocate freedom of speech, the most important thing is the safety of innocent civilians. Activists should not put peoples’ lives at risk to send over an American comedy film which mocks their leader.

The North told South Koreans living near the border they should evacuate, according to the International Business Times.

There is no purpose for sending propaganda and a film mocking Kim Jung-un other than to antagonize North Korea. It’s not going to solve any real problems.

This isn’t a free speech issue, it’s a safety issue. No one should evacuate their home so some balloons can carry meaningless things across a border. Rather than push back the date of the launch, FFNA should cancel the event altogether.