Asia-Pacific

ROK protests DPRK's warning on border crossings

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-04-12 16:27

SEOUL: The Republic of Korea (ROK) government voiced discontent Monday over the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) recent threat that it might reconsider military agreements on cross-border passage unless Seoul ends what it calls anti-Pyongyang smear campaign.

The DPRK last Saturday issued a warning that it would take "decisive measures" unless Seoul takes step to stop anti-Pyongyang propaganda activities by ROK civic groups sending leaflets condemning the country.

"We have pointed out unjustness of North Korea (DPRK)'s claim in a fax message to the North," Seoul's Defense Ministry said in a statement, expressing regret over Pyongyang's unilateral notification.

ROK activists have for years floated propaganda balloons filled with leaflets criticizing the northern neighbor, which authorities here have found difficult to stop despite the DPRK's repeated protests that further frayed conflict-ridden relations between the warring Koreas.

"The government has maintained a position that (propaganda activities) are undesirable considering influences they could have on inter-Korean relations, and have therefore asked (civic groups) to refrain from such activities since 2005," Seoul's unification ministry spokesman Chun Hae-sung told reporters earlier in the day.

There is no legal ground to justify forcing civic group activists into stopping sending propaganda-filled leaflets into the DPRK, Chun added.

The two Koreas agreed to halt all propaganda activities in 2004.