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Balloon campaign assails N Korea | Balloon campaign assails N Korea |
(31 minutes later) | |
South Korean activists have sent thousands of propaganda leaflets into North Korea, ignoring threats from the North to sever relations. | South Korean activists have sent thousands of propaganda leaflets into North Korea, ignoring threats from the North to sever relations. |
Activists launched 10 huge helium balloons, each stuffed with 10,000 flyers critical of North Korean leader Kim Jong-il. | Activists launched 10 huge helium balloons, each stuffed with 10,000 flyers critical of North Korean leader Kim Jong-il. |
Pyongyang said last week it would close the land border if the acts continued. | Pyongyang said last week it would close the land border if the acts continued. |
Seoul has appealed to activists to stop, but says its free speech laws protect the practice. | Seoul has appealed to activists to stop, but says its free speech laws protect the practice. |
Earlier today, 10 South Korean activists gathered on a hillside in freezing rain to release the balloons. | Earlier today, 10 South Korean activists gathered on a hillside in freezing rain to release the balloons. |
The North has called the leaflet campaign "psychological warfare" and says that it risks provoking military confrontation. | The North has called the leaflet campaign "psychological warfare" and says that it risks provoking military confrontation. |
Increasing vitriol | Increasing vitriol |
Each bundle of leaflets has its own timing mechanism, readied to burst open at different intervals and scatter the cargo over a wide area north of the heavily fortified border, wind permitting. | Each bundle of leaflets has its own timing mechanism, readied to burst open at different intervals and scatter the cargo over a wide area north of the heavily fortified border, wind permitting. |
Your 'great' leader's last days are approaching. The dictator has collapsed from illness Leaflet text class="" href="/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7719755.stm">Storm looms over N Korea balloons "My fellow North Koreans! Do not just sit and die of hunger but fight against Kim Jong-il," read one new leaflet from a group of activists that defected from the North. | |
It also suggested Mr Kim has had nine wives or consorts and accused him of living in luxury while millions of his people go hungry. | It also suggested Mr Kim has had nine wives or consorts and accused him of living in luxury while millions of his people go hungry. |
Other pamphlets called for the overthrow of Mr Kim and repeated claims he has suffered a stroke - a highly taboo subject inside the country over which his family has exercised absolute authority for 60 years. | Other pamphlets called for the overthrow of Mr Kim and repeated claims he has suffered a stroke - a highly taboo subject inside the country over which his family has exercised absolute authority for 60 years. |
"Your 'great' leader's last days are approaching. The dictator has collapsed from illness," another leaflet said. | "Your 'great' leader's last days are approaching. The dictator has collapsed from illness," another leaflet said. |
'Warfare' | 'Warfare' |
The launches of the giant balloons - each 10m (33 feet) long and a metre in diameter - have worsened already tense relations. | The launches of the giant balloons - each 10m (33 feet) long and a metre in diameter - have worsened already tense relations. |
The leaflets target ordinary North Koreans, largely cut off from the world Last week, the North vowed to shut the inter-Korean land border on 1 December, citing the South Korean government's refusal to clamp down on "confrontational" activities, including the leafleting. | |
The move would cripple a Seoul-funded industrial estate developed in the North as a symbol of reconciliation. | The move would cripple a Seoul-funded industrial estate developed in the North as a symbol of reconciliation. |
The North also accused the South of violating a 2004 agreement to end decades of cross-border propaganda warfare. | The North also accused the South of violating a 2004 agreement to end decades of cross-border propaganda warfare. |
While the Seoul government has halted activities and appealed to activists to stop their campaigns, the balloon launches continue. | While the Seoul government has halted activities and appealed to activists to stop their campaigns, the balloon launches continue. |
The two Koreas technically remain at war because their 1950-53 conflict ended in a truce, not a peace treaty, and remain divided by a heavily fortified border. | The two Koreas technically remain at war because their 1950-53 conflict ended in a truce, not a peace treaty, and remain divided by a heavily fortified border. |
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