Stephan Haggard Quoted on N. Korea's Stability
North Korea threatens 'firing attacks' on South over leaflets about Mideast turmoil
02/27/2011
Chico Harlan,
The Washington Post
North Korea on Sunday threatened to fire cross-border shots if South Korea continues a leaflet-launching propaganda campaign, which aims in part to inform the hermetic North of popular revolts in the Middle East.
In a statement carried by its state-run news agency, Pyongyang called the leaflets - stuffed into columnlike balloons - a psychological plot to "shake up our socialism and break the trust of our military and people." Calling it a matter of self-defense, North Korea said it would "launch direct, targeted firing attacks" on any area where South Korean activists or military members are seen releasing the balloons.
Although the North issues frequent threats to its neighbor, the latest warning comes one day before a U.S.-South Korea military drill that Pyongyang considers a preparation for invasion.
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Stephan Haggard can provide commentary on current developments in the Asia-Pacific, including particularly Korea, and on the politics of economic reform and globalization.
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