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North Korea number radio broadcasts trouble South Korea | |
(about 3 hours later) | |
South Korean officials have voiced "deep regret" after North Korea apparently resurrected a Cold War-era method of contacting spies. | South Korean officials have voiced "deep regret" after North Korea apparently resurrected a Cold War-era method of contacting spies. |
In recent weeks, mysterious strings of numbers have twice been broadcast over the radio from the North. | In recent weeks, mysterious strings of numbers have twice been broadcast over the radio from the North. |
A spokesman for the Unification Ministry said the South "can't speak conclusively about North Korea's hidden intentions behind the broadcasting". | A spokesman for the Unification Ministry said the South "can't speak conclusively about North Korea's hidden intentions behind the broadcasting". |
"But we urge North Korea to desist from such outdated practices." | "But we urge North Korea to desist from such outdated practices." |
Jeong Joon-hee said Pyongyang should "seek ways to promote inter-Korean ties", reported the Yonhap news agency. | Jeong Joon-hee said Pyongyang should "seek ways to promote inter-Korean ties", reported the Yonhap news agency. |
What do the broadcasts say? | What do the broadcasts say? |
The numbers were picked up on Radio Pyongyang last Friday, officials have said. | The numbers were picked up on Radio Pyongyang last Friday, officials have said. |
Yonhap quoted government sources as saying the 12-minute broadcast began shortly after midnight, with a female voice saying: "I will give review work to No. 27 exploration agents." | Yonhap quoted government sources as saying the 12-minute broadcast began shortly after midnight, with a female voice saying: "I will give review work to No. 27 exploration agents." |
The announcer then read: "On page 459 number 35, on page 913 number 55, on page 135 number 86, on page 257 number 2," and so on. | The announcer then read: "On page 459 number 35, on page 913 number 55, on page 135 number 86, on page 257 number 2," and so on. |
The Associated Press (AP) said a similar two-minute broadcast had taken place on 24 June. | The Associated Press (AP) said a similar two-minute broadcast had taken place on 24 June. |
What do the numbers mean? | What do the numbers mean? |
South Korean intelligence authorities are trying to work that out, but they are now on alert for "possible provocations". | South Korean intelligence authorities are trying to work that out, but they are now on alert for "possible provocations". |
Such broadcasts were used frequently during the Cold War as a way of getting coded messages to spies in the field or to activate sleeper agents. | Such broadcasts were used frequently during the Cold War as a way of getting coded messages to spies in the field or to activate sleeper agents. |
Spies would use a hardcopy reference book to decode the numbers into instructions. | Spies would use a hardcopy reference book to decode the numbers into instructions. |
Yonhap reported that North Korea had not broadcast number codes since 2000 - it has since preferred to use the internet for its communications. | Yonhap reported that North Korea had not broadcast number codes since 2000 - it has since preferred to use the internet for its communications. |
So why is North Korea doing this now? | So why is North Korea doing this now? |
The broadcasts come after a spike in tensions between North Korea and South Korea over the North's nuclear and missile tests, and retaliatory international sanctions. | The broadcasts come after a spike in tensions between North Korea and South Korea over the North's nuclear and missile tests, and retaliatory international sanctions. |
This month, South Korea and the US announced an agreement to deploy an advanced missile defence system, sparking an angry response from Pyongyang. | This month, South Korea and the US announced an agreement to deploy an advanced missile defence system, sparking an angry response from Pyongyang. |
On Monday, it fired three ballistic missiles into the sea, later saying it had tested nuclear detonators that could be used in a pre-emptive strike on the South. | On Monday, it fired three ballistic missiles into the sea, later saying it had tested nuclear detonators that could be used in a pre-emptive strike on the South. |
Prof Remco E Breuker, a Korean expert at Leiden University, told the BBC that while North Korea could genuinely be trying to contact "sleeper agents" in the South, it could also be an attempt to step up pressure "by ostentatiously signalling agents in South Korea who aren't there". | Prof Remco E Breuker, a Korean expert at Leiden University, told the BBC that while North Korea could genuinely be trying to contact "sleeper agents" in the South, it could also be an attempt to step up pressure "by ostentatiously signalling agents in South Korea who aren't there". |
"In other words, it's a mock-up like some of the missiles shown in one of Pyongyang's military parades." | "In other words, it's a mock-up like some of the missiles shown in one of Pyongyang's military parades." |
He says that in the modern era, "it is much easier to use the internet or mobile phones to communicate". | He says that in the modern era, "it is much easier to use the internet or mobile phones to communicate". |
One analyst also told AP the messages might just be for psychological effect. | One analyst also told AP the messages might just be for psychological effect. |
Yoo Dongryul of the Korea Institute for Liberal Democracy said it seemed implausible that North Korea was using the Cold War-era technique to actually communicate given it has access to much more sophisticated methods. | Yoo Dongryul of the Korea Institute for Liberal Democracy said it seemed implausible that North Korea was using the Cold War-era technique to actually communicate given it has access to much more sophisticated methods. |