North Korea makes threats over propaganda leaflets

SEOUL, Oct. 13 (UPI) -- North Korea has threatened to "annihilate" those responsible for propaganda leaflets sent by balloon from South Korea to North Korea last week.

The balloons, with propaganda leaflets condemning the North Korean regime of Kim Jong Un, were floated by an organization of South Korean activists who are North Korean defectors. The threat, which also predicted "crushing blows of higher intensity" if the balloons did not cease, was delivered to the executive office of South Korean President Park Geun-hye, the Seoul newspaper Chosun Ilbo.

Lim Byeong-cheol of the South Korean Unification Ministry said North Korean troops fired at the balloons with machine guns. Some rounds from the artillery fire landed on South Korean territory, prompting a return of fire.

Although North Korea demanded that South Korea stop the balloons, Lim noted the South Korean government has no legal ground to restrict civilian groups from employing the leaflet distribution procedure.