The influential sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un warned on Tuesday that South Korea would face “devastating” consequences if it allowed North Korean defectors to continue sending anti-Pyongyang leaflets to the North, Korean media reported.
Kim Yo Jong, deputy department director of the ruling Workers’ Party, said North Korea will inevitably change its response methods if defectors continue to distribute leaflets against the North, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported.
In a statement carried by KCNA, Kim said the North has detected 29 large balloons carrying such leaflets near the inter-Korean border and other areas. Kim also said on Sunday that “dirty leaflets and items” were found in 17 locations near the border and other areas in her country, and condemned the actions as “foul play.”
The North’s state media published rare photos showing the burning of leaflets delivered from South Korea as well as packaging of cold medicine.
Tensions on the border rose after North Korea launched balloons filled with rubbish, manure and paper towards the South. It was a protest against groups in the South that use similar means to spread disinformation about North Korean authorities.
Earlier, North Korea agreed to a temporary halt to the balloon flights after Seoul warned of “intolerable” measures, including the resumption of deafening propaganda and pop music broadcasts through a network of loudspeakers along the demilitarised zone.
