South Korea fails to thwart activists from sending candy and socks to North Korea - Polidicks

[quote][B][B]SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA [/B][/B]Activists in South Korea claimed victory today in their battle to launch tens of thousands of balloons carrying propaganda material to North Korea. The activists, almost all defectors from North Korea, said they had to skirt South Korean [URL="http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Asia-Pacific/2012/1022/South-Korea-blocks-activists-from-air-dropping-leaflets-over-North-video"]policemen blocking them from their intended launch site[/URL] and drive to a much less conspicuous site 20 miles south of the border village of Imjingak, the historic tourist area from which they had earlier planned to launch the balloons. The activists had chosen Imjingak, which includes a Buddhist shrine, a peace bell, and memorials to those who died in the Korean War, because it is a highly visible site where they could obtain maximum publicity. Local residents objected, however, after North Korea promised “merciless strikes” on the area, several miles south of the truce village of Panmunjom in the demilitarized zone between the two Koreas. The alternative site was on Gangwha Island, at the mouth of the Han River about 30 miles northwest of Seoul. North Korea’s barren countryside is clearly visible on the other side. The activists said they avoided policemen in their quest for a new launch site, but said the impression was that authorities wanted to let them launch their balloons after having put on an appearance of frustrating their first plan. If the police had really wanted to stop them, one analyst noted anonymously, they would have followed them closely and set up new roadblocks. There were no signs today of any North Korean effort to fire on the site from which balloons laden with about 120,000 pro-democracy leaflets and other items – including dollar bills, candy bars, and socks – wafted northward on wind currents. Free North Korea Radio, one of several short-wave stations operated by activists that broadcasts from here into North Korea, carried several news stories announcing and then justifying the launch. “We are keeping our promise to the public,” said a statement on the station’s website. “For the love of our brothers and sisters in North Korea, we cannot postpone this launch.” [/quote] [URL="http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Global-News/2012/1023/South-Korea-fails-to-thwart-activists-from-sending-candy-and-socks-to-North-Korea"]CSM[/URL]

Why would they be against this?

[QUOTE=Pepsi-cola;38148769]Why would they be against this?[/QUOTE] Probably because of this [quote] ... after North Korea promised “merciless strikes” on the area ...[/quote]

Kim Jong-un will eat all of the candy. He'll probably eat the socks, too.

[QUOTE=IKTM;38149729]Kim Jong-un will eat all of the candy. He'll probably eat the socks, too.[/QUOTE] no he would get his people to eat the Candy and Socks and then Eat theme

[QUOTE=Trainbike;38148777]Probably because of this[/QUOTE] Man, the NK leadership sure would like to end the world in a nuclear firestorm if they ever get the chance to do it I've seen disney villians who were less evil

[QUOTE=Pepsi-cola;38148769]Why would they be against this?[/QUOTE] They just wanted to appear to be against this, so that NK wouldn't have an excuse to mortar more civilians.

[QUOTE=IKTM;38149729] He'll probably eat the socks, too.[/QUOTE] Cotton candy, delicious.

[QUOTE=Trainbike;38148777]Probably because of this[/QUOTE] that was my same thought process after seeing the title, "why, this would probably help the downtrodden NK'ers see some hope and- oh right NK would probably fire missiles at the balloons"

It's kind of sad how S. Korea is using humanitarian aid as a diplomatic card/bargaining chip to use against the North. You would think that humanitarian aid should always be available

[QUOTE=CabooseRvB;38152152]It's kind of sad how S. Korea is using humanitarian aid as a diplomatic card/bargaining chip to use against the North. You would think that humanitarian aid should always be available[/QUOTE] 1) This was civilians who did it. SK has kept the aid flowing despite protests and some real issues. 2) After 60 years of the food aid being stolen and redistributed to soldiers instead of the people it was intended for, I don't think we owe them anything. Food aid keeps the regime alive. Break the regime.