South Korea denounces North Korean radio spy messages

SEOUL, July 29 (UPI) -- South Korea on Friday accused North Korea of sending coded messages to spies through radio broadcasts, condemning the action.

Jeong Joon-hee, a spokesman for South Korea's Unification Ministry, which deals with inter-Korean matters, said the broadcast was the third since June 24, and consists of sending encrypted instructions though a recitation of numbers, known as a book cipher. He referred to them as "outdated provocations."

The latest broadcast began shortly after midnight Friday, a 12-minute reading by a female voice which began, "Starting now, I will give an assignment to exploration agent No. 27. On page 459, number 35, on page 913, number 55, on page 135, number 86, on page 257, number 2."

South Korean official said the number patterns were identical to those in a broadcast delivered July 15. The message Friday came after North Korea allegedly sent 10 teams of secret agents to China and other Southeastern Asian countries Tuesday, the Korea Times reported, with a goal of launching terrorist attacks. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un ordered the spy missions after South Korea refused to return 13 North Koreans who defected in April while working in a restaurant in China.