S. Korean activists float leaflets on key N. Korean anniversary

SEOUL, Oct. 10 (Yonhap) -- Several dozens of North Korean defectors floated tens of thousands of anti-Pyongyang leaflets from the South Korean side of the heavily fortified border with North Korea on Monday as they brushed off the North's latest threats of retaliation against their psychological warfare.
For years, the defectors and other South Korean activists have frequently sent leaflets condemning North Korean leader Kim Jong-il and calling for an uprising against him.



The latest campaign came as North Korea celebrated its 66th anniversary of the ruling Workers' Party.
Just a day before, North Korea threatened to launch "direct fire" against South Korea over its propaganda leaflets, calling their release "an undisguised war action."
The North has bristled at any outside criticism of its leader and has made similar verbal threats against the South over leaflets in recent months, although no actual attack has occurred.
Still, Park Sang-hak, who has led a high-profile campaign to send anti-Pyongyang leaflets for years, vowed to proceed with his plans despite a botched assassination attempt on him.
"I will keep sending anti-Pyongyang leaflets to help promote democracy and human rights of North Koreans," Park said after sending some 200,000 leaflets.
South Korea recently arrested a North Korean defector for plotting to kill Park.
Also Monday, North Korean officials visited the Kumsusan Memorial Palace, where the embalmed body of the North's founder, Kim Il-sung, lies, according to the North's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).
Ordinary North Koreans laid baskets of flowers at Kim's statues across the country while paying their respects, the KCNA said in a separate dispatch.