North Korea Furious About Leaflets That Only Reinforce Loyalty

So … if the leaflet drops merely reinforce the loyalty of North Koreans to the regime, then what is the regime so upset about?

The North’s official Web site, Uriminzokkiri, said the bills are “nothing more than waste paper” and that the leaflets do little to undermine the pride of its people in the communist regime. “Such confrontational madness will only snap up the extraordinary alarm and ire of our army and people,” it said in a commentary.

North Korea’s military has warned it would shell South Korean sites used to send propaganda leaflets and broadcasts. On Nov. 23, the North shelled the western South Korean island of Yeonpyeong, killing two marines and two civilians in its first direct attack on an inhabited region in the South since the 1950-53 Korean War.

The other reason North Korea’s strong reaction is interesting is the extent of its own subversion operations in South Korea.

Sadly, I’m not sure North Korea is making empty threats. I hope the Fighters for a Free North Korea will take precautions about announcing their launch sites in advance, although I suppose it’s inevitable that at least one spy or fifth columnist will be able to report their movements. If you want to help, the North Korean Freedom Coalition contributes to FFNK’s leafleting operations. I can’t think of a way to make a small donation go further.