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With Color and Fury, Anti-American Posters Appear in North Korea With Color and Fury, Anti-American Posters Appear in North Korea
(about 2 hours later)
The language on the North Korean posters is as bombastic as the images are eye-popping and the colors blindingly bright.The language on the North Korean posters is as bombastic as the images are eye-popping and the colors blindingly bright.
One blue-lettered poster shows a barrage of missiles heading toward a map of the United States that is in flames. It boasts, “The entire mainland United States is within our range!”One blue-lettered poster shows a barrage of missiles heading toward a map of the United States that is in flames. It boasts, “The entire mainland United States is within our range!”
Another shows red missiles emerging from a North Korean flag to slam into the United States Capitol and eviscerate the American flag. It carries the words: “Our answer!”Another shows red missiles emerging from a North Korean flag to slam into the United States Capitol and eviscerate the American flag. It carries the words: “Our answer!”
A third poster displays a red missile mounted on a giant red tank. It lambastes United Nations sanctions and hails the North’s self-reliance with the words: “No one can stop our march forward!”A third poster displays a red missile mounted on a giant red tank. It lambastes United Nations sanctions and hails the North’s self-reliance with the words: “No one can stop our march forward!”
The posters and defiant slogans were unveiled this past week, the latest sign that tensions remain high between Washington and Pyongyang over the North’s nuclear ambitions and the sanctions imposed by other nations.The posters and defiant slogans were unveiled this past week, the latest sign that tensions remain high between Washington and Pyongyang over the North’s nuclear ambitions and the sanctions imposed by other nations.
Political posters have long been an important feature of culture and daily life in the North. They are everywhere: on the walls of public buildings, at the gates of schools and at factories and collective farms. They are used to instill in North Koreans the tenets of party ideology and loyalty.Political posters have long been an important feature of culture and daily life in the North. They are everywhere: on the walls of public buildings, at the gates of schools and at factories and collective farms. They are used to instill in North Koreans the tenets of party ideology and loyalty.
The KCNA state news agency did not explain why these themes were chosen. But the posters were unveiled after President Trump warned North Korea that it would face “fire and fury” from an American military that was “locked and loaded” if the country made any nuclear provocations. The KCNA state news agency did not explain why these themes were chosen this time. But the posters were unveiled after President Trump recently warned North Korea that it would face “fire and fury” from an American military that was “locked and loaded” if the country made any nuclear provocations.
The North, in turn, threatened to launch four intermediate-range ballistic missiles into the waters near Guam, an American territory in the Western Pacific, to teach Mr. Trump a lesson.The North, in turn, threatened to launch four intermediate-range ballistic missiles into the waters near Guam, an American territory in the Western Pacific, to teach Mr. Trump a lesson.
The government in the North has long used posters and rallies to whip up anti-American sentiments and national fervor. They are mainly for domestic consumption. But these military-themed posters also send a message to President Kim Jong-un’s perceived enemies abroad.The government in the North has long used posters and rallies to whip up anti-American sentiments and national fervor. They are mainly for domestic consumption. But these military-themed posters also send a message to President Kim Jong-un’s perceived enemies abroad.
“What is typical in these posters is the image of an undaunted, fierce North Korea that is not fazed by the moves by the United States or the United Nations,” Koen de Ceuster, an expert on North Korea at Leiden University in the Netherlands, told Reuters.“What is typical in these posters is the image of an undaunted, fierce North Korea that is not fazed by the moves by the United States or the United Nations,” Koen de Ceuster, an expert on North Korea at Leiden University in the Netherlands, told Reuters.
“It reinforces the images of the strides North Korea made in missile capability,” he said, “and how North Korea is undaunted by any challenges to its sovereignty.”“It reinforces the images of the strides North Korea made in missile capability,” he said, “and how North Korea is undaunted by any challenges to its sovereignty.”
Countries use various signaling techniques in times of crisis, experts in geopolitics say, including diplomacy, back-channel talks and public messaging. The North is clearly sending a message with these posters. The tank symbolizes “byungjin,” the North Korean policy of seeking nuclear and economic development simultaneously.Countries use various signaling techniques in times of crisis, experts in geopolitics say, including diplomacy, back-channel talks and public messaging. The North is clearly sending a message with these posters. The tank symbolizes “byungjin,” the North Korean policy of seeking nuclear and economic development simultaneously.
The North has test-fired missile after missile, raising fears in the region and prompting the United Nations to impose new sanctions in August on North Korea that could slash the country’s $3 billion in annual export revenue by one-third. China, a close ally of the North, has vowed to enforce the new penalties. The North has test-fired missile after missile, rattling the region. Then in July the country tested an intercontinental ballistic missile that appeared capable of hitting the West Coast of the United States — a milestone, experts said.
The heated words that followed the sanctions had leaders of Japan and South Korea scrambling to tamp down the tensions. The top American general, Joseph F. Dunford Jr., and President Moon Jae-in of South Korea huddled in talks, saying they hoped to avoid armed conflict. That prompted the United Nations to impose new sanctions in August that could slash the country’s $3 billion in annual export revenue by one-third.
Since then, Mr. Kim has appeared to back off any imminent decision on blasting the waters around Guam. And Mr. Trump, who moved to ease tensions with the North after his administration was accused of conflicting statements on the crisis, praised Mr. Kim for his “wise” decision. Heated words followed, and the leaders of Japan and South Korea scrambled to tamp down the tensions. The top American general, Joseph F. Dunford Jr., and President Moon Jae-in of South Korea huddled in talks, saying they hoped to avoid armed conflict.
For now, the war of words has been muted. But a potential inflection point looms. On Monday, American and South Korean troops will begin annual large-scale war games — the first to be conducted since the North test-fired missiles that appeared capable of reaching the United States. Since then, Mr. Kim has appeared to back off any imminent decision on blasting the waters around Guam. And Mr. Trump praised Mr. Kim for his “wise” decision.
For now, the war of words has been muted. But a potential inflection point looms. On Monday, American and South Korean troops will begin annual large-scale war games — the first since the North test-fired missiles that might be able to reach the United States mainland.