N. Korea: Hostile leaflets chills inter-Korean ties
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E-mail Xinhua, October 12, 2014
The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on Saturday accused South Korean authorities of conniving at the operation of scattering anti-DPRK leaflets, saying it chills the current atmosphere for improving north-south ties.
"This is an unpardonable politically-motivated provocation against the DPRK and nothing but a last-ditch effort to chill the atmosphere of warming the inter-Korean ties," the official news agency KCNA said in a commentary.
The second round of high-level contact between the two Koreas "has been put in the danger of abortion due to the U.S. backstage manipulation and South Korean authorities' irresponsible and provocative behavior," the state media warned.
On Oct. 4, the DPRK and South Korea agreed to hold the second round of high-level contact between late October and early November, during a surprise visit of three high-ranking DPRK officials to South Korea's Incheon city, rekindling hope that the tense relationship on the Korean Peninsula will hit a turning point.
However, a South Korean civic organization, mainly made up of "defectors" from the DPRK, on Friday flew anti-DPRK leaflets through balloons into the DPRK's territory from the western region.
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A South Korean civic organization, mainly made up of "defectors" from the DPRK, on Oct. 10, 2014 flew anti-DPRK leaflets through balloons into the DPRK's territory from the western region. [CRI] |
Soon after that, the DPRK launched live ammunitions toward the balloons, with some falling in a civilian area in South Korea's Yeoncheon County. In response, the South Korean military fired back some 40 rounds of 12.7-mm K-6 machine gun.
One day earlier, the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of Korea reiterated call for South Korea to halt sending balloons that bear anti-government propaganda across the border, warning that north-south relations may get worse again if Seoul allows or acquiesces to such leaflet-spreading move.
Given the prevailing situation, this balloon operation may develop into an armed clash, the state media said, implying that more military actions may be taken by the DPRK side.
The commentary also slammed the United States for financing the leaflets spreading operation, saying South Korea and the United States are "wirepullers" and "chief architects" behind it.
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