Seoul resumes propaganda broadcasts

A South Korean soldier stands near the loudspeakers near the border area between South Korea and North Korea in Yeoncheon, South Korea, Friday, Jan. 8, 2016.

South Korea is set to start broadcasting anti-Pyongyang propaganda across the border on Friday, believed to be the birthday of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, as part of its retaliation for the North’s recent nuclear test. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)SEOUL, South Korea (AP) – South Korea retaliated for North Korea’s nuclear test with broadcasts of anti-Pyongyang propaganda across the rival’s tense border Friday, believed to be the birthday of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Pyongyang says the broadcasts are tantamount to an act of war. The broadcasts previously drew a furious response from the North and, according to Seoul, touched off an exchange of artillery fire.

Friday’s moves came as the global community struggled to find common ground on how best to penalise North Korea following its announcement two days ago that it had successfully tested its first hydrogen bomb.

“For one thing, the North Korean regime has chosen the wrong path for security, and for another, the USA has persistently stuck to a hostile policy toward North Korea”, the commentary said.

The resumption of the cross-border broadcasts, which include a mix of everything from K-pop and weather forecasts to snippets of news and critiques of the North Korean government, revives psychological warfare tactics that date back to the 1950-53 Korean War.

USA intelligence-gathering aircraft have been taking off from an American air base in southern Japan, a day after North Korea said it tested a hydrogen bomb. “Countries run by dictatorships even try to control human instincts”.

In August 2015, South Korea briefly resumed propaganda broadcasts after accusing North Korea of planting land mines that exploded and maimed two South Korean soldiers. It might be more hard to do so now. Seoul’s agency says the 4.8-magnitude quake was likely caused by a manmade explosion.

Experts doubted that North Korea managed to build a fully fledged thermonuclear warhead, which has far greater explosive power than the fission weapons it has tested before.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry urged China, the North’s only major ally and its biggest aid provider, to end “business as usual” with North Korea.

Park’s office said she also spoke with Abe over the phone and that they vowed cooperation to ensure that the U.N. Security Council imposes strong and effective measures against the North.

South Korea said North Korea’s nuclear test was in violation of the August 25 agreement, reached on August 25 past year after marathon inter-Korean talks between top-level military advisors to their respective leaders. Officials refused to elaborate, but the assets likely are B-52 bombers, F-22 stealth fighters and nuclear-powered submarines.

While China has said it is “firmly opposed” to the nuclear test, Beijing’s leadership has been reluctant to use more leverage over Pyongyang because it could lead to the North’s collapse and instability on its border. B-2 and B-52 bombers are capable of delivering nuclear weapons. North Korea’s state TV announces hours later that scientists have achieved “perfect success” in testing a “miniaturized” H-bomb. The institute will continue to collect and analyze more samples.