N.Korea Ratchets Up Threats Against South

North Korea is ratcheting up threats against South Korea. In yet

another message on Saturday, the chief of the North Korean

delegation to the inter-Korean military talks again demanded that

South Korean private organizations stop sending anti-North leaflets.

Unless the South Korean government "works out measures to stop

[the propaganda activities] and officially notifies us of the result, our

Army will take a decisive measure," the message said. "The South

should not disregard our Army's solemn warning."

Since February, defectors organizations have resumed floating helium

balloons into the North carrying DVDs that describe North Korean

leader Kim Jong-il's life of luxury.

According to the Unification Ministry on Sunday, the North has asked

South Korean government officials to present themselves again when

it seizes property owned by the South Korean government and the

Korea Tourism Organization in the Mt. Kumgang resort area on

Tuesday. A ministry spokesman said officials will not respond to the

summons.

The message warned if the propaganda leaflets continue being sent,

the North Korean Army will "formally consider if we should continue to

comply with the agreement on military safety guarantees for South

Korean personnel on east and west coasts."

The North Korean military's approval is essential for South Koreans to

visit the joint industrial park in Kaesong. The North Korean military

liaison office at the truce village of Panmunjom on March 29

complained that the South permitted the media into the demilitarized

zone and threatened "human casualties."

A South Korean security official said, "It seems the North has taken a

hardline policy against the South once again." But the North has had

nothing to say about the sinking of the South Korean Navy corvette

Cheonan on March 26.

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