No dialogue possible unless anti-DPRK leaflet drop halted

PYONGYANG - The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) said firmly on Saturday that there will be no dialogue between Pyongyang and Seoul or chances of improvement of inter-Korean relations unless Seoul's anti-DPRK leaflet drop is suspended.

"The Republic of Korea (ROK) authorities should not even dream of sitting at the negotiating table with us as long as a reckless leaflet scattering operation goes on," said a statement released by the DPRK's Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of Korea.

An ROK civic organization again flew anti-Pyongyang leaflets in Kyeonggi Province at midnight of Friday to shun away from public attention, according to the statement.

On Oct. 25, a group of ROK conservative activists sought to fly balloons carrying anti-DPRK leaflets in Imjingak near the inter-Korean land border, but it failed as progressive civic groups and residents there were strongly opposed to it. The activists instead floated a large balloon containing the leaflets at night from the nearby Gimpo area.

ROK authorities are obliged to extradite the "defectors" from the DPRK back to the country in accordance with international law and practice, the statement said, warning of a decisive operation to "finish off" the "defectors" if Seoul fails to do so.

It also said that Pyongyang will lodge a complaint to international organizations such as the United Nations against Seoul's dispersion of anti-DPRK leaflets, in a bid to build an international chorus of condemnation of such moves that hurt the dignity of the country's leadership.

The Park Geun-hye administration will "have to pay a dear price" for scuppering the hard-won opportunity for improving the north- south ties, the statement added.

On Oct 26, the DPRK National Defense Commission sent a notice via the western military hotline to ROK presidential national security office, saying that it will reconsider the agreement with Seoul to hold high-level talks as Seoul did nothing to prevent civic groups from flying anti-DPRK leaflets across the border.