South Korea Blasts Propaganda Into Kim’s North

South Korean officials said on Monday North Korean intruders planted three land mines on the South Korea side of the demilitarized zone – including one that exploded last Tuesday injuring two soldiers.

Both Koreas discontinued the high-decibel propaganda exchanges in 2004 during a period of rapprochement. The military already resumed anti-communist propaganda broadcasts across the border and is considering shooting on sight at any North Korean infiltrator. He demanded that Pyongyang apologize for planting the landmines and severely punish whoever is responsible. Sounds from the speakers could be heard 10km to 20km away depending on the time of day.

The move will likely trigger a surge in cross-border tensions.

“When we have the psychological warfare – the leaflets or the loudspeakers – basically the message is: the current leader is doing a very bad job, that their human rights are being violated, and that there’s a much better world outside that they should be aware of”, said Lee, an associate professor of worldwide relations at Yonsei University in Seoul.

It said it would call for a meeting with North Korea’s military. “Since Kim Jong Un came into power, he has swapped out his defense minister six times and the chief of staff four times, so there are a lot of issues within the military when it comes to appointing people”, Kim said.

North Korea has not yet responded to the report’s claims.

“They’re looking at this as a new East Asian business and tourism hub”, said Michael Spavor, an independent consultant who is helping a Wonsan investment committee seek more than $150 million in foreign funds, including for the brewery. “I can’t say in what way”. “One lost both legs in the first blast, involving two mines”, the newspaper notes, “The other soldier lost one leg in a second explosion as he tried to help his wounded colleague to safety”.

(Stand-up) “The committee closed the session by approving up a resolution that condemns North Korea for the incident, which it says is a violation of the armistice”.

An investigation led by the United Nations Command (under the aegis of the U.S.) in Korea resulted in the finding that the landmines were placed recently, dissolving the possibility that they were from a foregone era.

A North Korean flag is seen on top of a tower near the truce village of Panmunjom in the demilitarised zone (DMZ) separating North Korea from South Korea, about 55 km (34 miles) north of Seoul, September 25, 2013.

After a war of words with the US and with new UN sanctions over the third nuclear test, the country vowed to restart all nuke facilities, including a uranium enrichment facility at Yongbyon.

The conclusions are based on the fact that the splinters from the explosions were from wood box mines, used by North Koreans.