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The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) dispersed anti-South Korea leaflets across the border in Seoul and its suburban areas in Gyeonggi province after the resumed propaganda broadcasts between the two sides, local media reported Wednesday.
South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff reportedly said that thousands of anti-South Korea fliers, believed to have been floated by DPRK forces on Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday morning, were discovered in Seoul and some areas of the Gyeonggi province.
The leaflets of different sizes and designs called for Seoul to stop its broadcasting of anti-Pyongyang messages in border areas with loudspeakers, which began last Friday as part of retaliatory measures to the DPRK's claim of its first hydrogen bomb test a week ago.
The DPRK also launched its own propaganda broadcasts with speakers along the border right after South Korea's resumption. The South Korean military said the anti-South Korean messages from the northern side were little heard due to the DPRK's low-powered speakers.
The military said that anti-DPRK messages from South Korean speakers can travel as far as 10 km during the day and 24 km at night.
The DPRK leaflets also criticized South Korean President Park Geun-hye and the hostile policy of the United States toward the DPRK, while threatening strike against the loudspeakers.
President Park described the resumed broadcasts as the most effective and powerful tool of psychological warfare during her nationally televised speech to people, indicating the continued broadcasts for the time being.
The Joint Chiefs of Staff reportedly said that the South Korean military is ready to conduct its own leaflet-floating operation at any time, noting that it is closely monitoring the moves of DPRK forces.
The two Koreas agreed in June 2004 to stop propaganda warfare, including dispersion of leaflets and broadcasts, and since then the two sides had refrained from it.
Seoul resumed the broadcasts in August last year after two South Korean soldiers were maimed by explosions of landmines, which Seoul claimed had been planted by DPRK forces. The broadcasts were suspended after an Aug. 25 agreement between the two sides to ease tensions.
