ID :
25850
Tue, 10/21/2008 - 19:21
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/25850
The shortlink copeid
N. Korea threatens 'consequences' for anti-communist leaflets
By Shim Sun-ah
SEOUL, Oct. 21 (Yonhap) -- North Korea on Tuesday accused the South Korean government of inciting and condoning its civic groups' massive distribution of leaflets that "slander" the communist state, threatening "grave consequences" that could develop into a new war.
The Lee Myung-bak government is supporting the airdrops of leaflets by
"conspiring with and patronizing" the groups, the Minju Joson, the organ of the
North Korean Cabinet, claimed in a commentary carried by the country's official
Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).
"What matters is that such scattering of anti-DPRK leaflets may entail very grave
consequences," the commentary said. Such a "psychological campaign" will annoy
the North Korean army and the people, and any accident along the inter-Korean
border may trigger an armed conflict, it said.
"It is beyond any doubt that this conflict will develop into a new war ... It is
crystal clear that in that case, the Lee group will not be safe, either," the
commentary continued. "In the final analysis, the Lee group is digging its own
grave."
The North's warning came days after the Seoul-based Fighters for Free North Korea
and two other groups of defectors flew large balloons carrying tens of thousands
of propaganda leaflets to the North around the 63rd anniversary of the country's
communist party on Oct. 10.
The communist state later threatened to cut even civilian ties with South Korea
if its conservative government keeps pursuing a tough policy toward the North.
Pyongyang stopped official dialogue with Seoul and evicted all South Korean
government officials from its territory about a month after President Lee
Myung-bak took office in late February in retaliation for his North Korea policy.
Tourism to North Korea's Mount Geumgang has been suspended since a North Korean
soldier shot dead a South Korean woman participating in the tour in early July.
Earlier this month, the North's top delegate to the inter-Korean military talks
said continued floating of leaflets from the South would have a negative impact
on tourism and the industrial complex in Kaesong, a North Korean border town.
The two Koreas agreed to cease propaganda activities along their heavily armed
border in high-level military talks held in 2004. But South Korean groups have
continued to send anti-North leaflets, some of which have been attached to radios
that can broadcast information into the North.
The groups involved in the campaign said they will continue spreading leaflets
despite threats from the North and their government's request to stop.
SEOUL, Oct. 21 (Yonhap) -- North Korea on Tuesday accused the South Korean government of inciting and condoning its civic groups' massive distribution of leaflets that "slander" the communist state, threatening "grave consequences" that could develop into a new war.
The Lee Myung-bak government is supporting the airdrops of leaflets by
"conspiring with and patronizing" the groups, the Minju Joson, the organ of the
North Korean Cabinet, claimed in a commentary carried by the country's official
Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).
"What matters is that such scattering of anti-DPRK leaflets may entail very grave
consequences," the commentary said. Such a "psychological campaign" will annoy
the North Korean army and the people, and any accident along the inter-Korean
border may trigger an armed conflict, it said.
"It is beyond any doubt that this conflict will develop into a new war ... It is
crystal clear that in that case, the Lee group will not be safe, either," the
commentary continued. "In the final analysis, the Lee group is digging its own
grave."
The North's warning came days after the Seoul-based Fighters for Free North Korea
and two other groups of defectors flew large balloons carrying tens of thousands
of propaganda leaflets to the North around the 63rd anniversary of the country's
communist party on Oct. 10.
The communist state later threatened to cut even civilian ties with South Korea
if its conservative government keeps pursuing a tough policy toward the North.
Pyongyang stopped official dialogue with Seoul and evicted all South Korean
government officials from its territory about a month after President Lee
Myung-bak took office in late February in retaliation for his North Korea policy.
Tourism to North Korea's Mount Geumgang has been suspended since a North Korean
soldier shot dead a South Korean woman participating in the tour in early July.
Earlier this month, the North's top delegate to the inter-Korean military talks
said continued floating of leaflets from the South would have a negative impact
on tourism and the industrial complex in Kaesong, a North Korean border town.
The two Koreas agreed to cease propaganda activities along their heavily armed
border in high-level military talks held in 2004. But South Korean groups have
continued to send anti-North leaflets, some of which have been attached to radios
that can broadcast information into the North.
The groups involved in the campaign said they will continue spreading leaflets
despite threats from the North and their government's request to stop.
