Asia-Pacific

Seoul puts off anti-DPRK propaganda, for now

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-05-30 16:22

The Republic of Korea's soldiers check speakers, which were used to broadcast propaganda toward Pyongyang, during a photo opportunity at a guard post near the demilitarized zone (DMZ) separating the two Koreas in Yanggu, northeast of Seoul May 24, 2010. [Agencies]

SEOUL - The Republic of Korea (ROK)'s military has put off a plan to fly anti-Pyongyang propaganda leaflets to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), Yonhap news agency reported Sunday, citing a defense ministry official.

"Leaflet distribution had been put off due to weather conditions so far, but we have now decided to put it on hold for the time being, considering the political situation," the ministry official said on condition of anonymity.

Related readings:  Seoul: Ship 'torpedoed by DPRK'  Seoul says DPRK sank warship; Pyongyang denies  DPRK snaps back at Seoul for jeopardizing ties  Seoul formally blames DPRK for ship sinking

Distributing propaganda leaflets is among a series of measures Seoul plans to take in retaliation for the alleged DPRK's sinking of a ROK's warship in March, which killed 46 sailors.

Other steps include halting trade with DPRK and resuming loudspeaker propaganda broadcasts along the border.  

DPRK has denied any responsibility for the warship sinking, and strongly protested Seoul's punitive measures.

DPRK also vowed on Monday that if ROK deploy propaganda loudspeakers along the border line, the DPRK military would fire at and destroy them, the official Korean Central News Agency reported.

Seoul has resumed FM radio propaganda broadcasts into DPRK while preparing to launch loudspeaker broadcasts on the heavily armed border. The loudspeaker campaign, which had been expected to begin in mid-June, is also likely to be put on hold, Yonhap said.

The two sides agreed to halt decades of propaganda warfare against each other under a 2004 deal struck following the first-ever summit of leaders in 2000.