Shots fired (again) as tension rises along Korean border over anti-Kim leaflets
4 replies, posted
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Troops exchanged gunfire on Sunday along the border between North and South Korea, the second outbreak of hostilities in the past 10 days. There were no reports of injuries or damage, but the 10 minutes of shooting highlighted rising tensions between the divided countries.
The shootout began after North Korea sent soldiers close to the border in an attempt, analysts said, to put pressure on the South to stop leafleting its citizens. The previous conflict came when North Korea opened fire on balloons carrying anti-Pyongyang leaflets that were floating over the border. South Korean activist groups, mostly made up of North Korean defectors, said they were determined to continue sending the leaflets.
South Korean said its soldiers fired warning shots at about 10 North Korean soldiers who were approaching the military demarcation line inside the demilitarised zone that bisects the Korean peninsula. Two shots believed to have been fired by North Korean soldiers were found at a South Korean guard post.
South Korea’s joint chiefs of staff said the North Korean soldiers turned back after the shooting. North Korea opened fire on 10 October after activists floated propaganda balloons across the border, following through on a previous threat to attack. There were no reports of casualties from that incident either.
North Korea has repeatedly demanded South Korea ban activists from sending leaflets, which often urge North Korean citizens to rise up against its leader, Kim Jong-un. South Korea has refused, saying activists are exercising freedom of speech.
Cheong Seong-chang, an analyst at the private Sejong Institute thinktank, said the exchange of gunfire on Sunday showed that North Korea was intentionally escalating military tension to spread fear about possible casualties should leafleting continue.
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[url]http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/oct/19/shots-fired-tension-rises-korean-border[/url]
Now, while I agree that South Korea has the right to allow people to release leaflets, I think they should stop them, at least now. The North has fired twice, which goes to show they won't hesitate to do it again. So for safety, its better to stop these activities, for now at least.
[QUOTE=Ignhelper;46278368]Now, while I agree that South Korea has the right to allow people to release leaflets, I think they should stop them, at least now. The North has fired twice, which goes to show they won't hesitate to do it again. So for safety, its better to stop these activities, for now at least.[/QUOTE] but this is what NK want's but this also dangerous so it's a catch 22.
You don't poke the malnourished bear...
I'd like to see them pull this shit on the Chinese side of the border.
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