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North Korea Warns South Over Leaflets North Korea Warns South Over Leaflets
(about 5 hours later)
SEOUL, South Korea — North Korea’s state-run news agency said on Saturday that the country’s plans to resume high-level government dialogue with South Korea were in danger of being canceled after troops from both sides exchanged machine-gun fire across the heavily armed border.SEOUL, South Korea — North Korea’s state-run news agency said on Saturday that the country’s plans to resume high-level government dialogue with South Korea were in danger of being canceled after troops from both sides exchanged machine-gun fire across the heavily armed border.
North Korea opened fire on Friday after anti-Pyongyang activists in the South sent large balloons sailing across the border with leaflets criticizing the North’s government. South Korean troops fired back.North Korea opened fire on Friday after anti-Pyongyang activists in the South sent large balloons sailing across the border with leaflets criticizing the North’s government. South Korean troops fired back.
The episode came days after the two countries had agreed to resume government talks to discuss improving ties after years of high tensions. The episode came days after the two countries had agreed to resume government talks to discuss improving ties.
In a commentary published on Saturday, the North’s official Korean Central News Agency said that the leaflets were “an intolerable political provocation” and “psychological warfare,” and that Seoul and Washington were behind them, according to the South Korean news agency Yonhap.In a commentary published on Saturday, the North’s official Korean Central News Agency said that the leaflets were “an intolerable political provocation” and “psychological warfare,” and that Seoul and Washington were behind them, according to the South Korean news agency Yonhap.
Blaming the South for failing to stop the activists, it said that inter-Korean relations were “disintegrating into a catastrophe” and that the planned talks had been “all but scrapped.”Blaming the South for failing to stop the activists, it said that inter-Korean relations were “disintegrating into a catastrophe” and that the planned talks had been “all but scrapped.”
Still, the North appeared to leave room for negotiation, saying the future of the relationship was “up to the attitude of the South Korean authorities.”Still, the North appeared to leave room for negotiation, saying the future of the relationship was “up to the attitude of the South Korean authorities.”
The agency is Pyongyang’s mouthpiece, and its commentaries closely reflect the views of top government leaders.The agency is Pyongyang’s mouthpiece, and its commentaries closely reflect the views of top government leaders.
North Korea has repeatedly demanded that the South stop the activists, most of them defectors from the North, from sending the leaflets, which are intended to upend the leadership of the North’s police state. The Seoul government has insisted that it cannot meddle in the private citizens’ campaign. North Korea has repeatedly demanded that the South stop the activists, most of them defectors from the North, from sending the leaflets. Seoul has insisted that it cannot meddle in the private citizens’ campaign.
But as the North’s threats to carry out an armed attack across the border have escalated in recent days, the South Korean police and villagers near the border have begun blocking some activists from releasing their leaflets. But as the North’s threats to attack have escalated, the South Korean police and villagers near the border have begun blocking some activists.
The activists, who said they would continue their campaign, accused the North of trying to blackmail the South.