North Korea vows to "show fire" if South Korea drops leaflets

North Korea said on April 10 it would use force to strike back at South Korean activists if they used balloons to drop leaflets and other anti-Pyongyang publications across the border between the two Koreas.

A South Korean civic group uses balloons to spread anti-North Korea leaflets. (Source: AFP)

North Korea will rain fire on South Korea as South Korean activists plan to send anti-North Korea leaflets and DVDs of the American film “The Interview,” North Korea’s Uriminzokkiri website said, adding that its patience with the move was “running out” and the North Korean military had targeted the activists.

Anti-North Korea activist Park Sang-hak and his group planned to launch balloons carrying the publications on April 9, but were stopped by South Korean police.

Another activist group also resumed the action last week, which is considered one of the main causes of tension between the two Koreas.

South Korea's Unification Ministry said the government cannot use force to stop the leafleting because it is a basic freedom of speech, but said it should not endanger people living near the border.

Speaking at a press conference on April 10, Ministry Spokesperson Lim Byeong-cheol said the South Korean government will address the issue by considering both aspects of ensuring basic rights and protecting people's safety "in a balanced manner."

In October 2014, North Korea used machine guns to fire at balloons launched by activists. Some bullets landed in South Korean territory, but no one was injured.

According to VNA