S. Korea activists, residents clash over anti-North leaflets

South Korean activists scuffled with egg-throwing residents of a border town Saturday as they attempted to launch propaganda leaflets into the North despite threats of retaliation from Pyongyang. Hundreds of riot police were deployed in the town of Paju, some 40 kilometres (25 miles) north of Seoul, as tensions flared when a dozen people with their faces hooded seized an activists’ truck carrying balloons and leaflets. The activists had planned to release balloons carrying around 40,000 leaflets criticizing the North’s government across the heavily-militarized frontier.

We will become the victims of shelling if leaflets are scattered.

A placard on a tree near the incident

But with Pyongyang threatening to retaliate over the launch, local residents set up road blocks with tractors and a placard reading “Stop anti-North leaflet launch jeopardizing our lives!”. Despite Seoul’s stance that the activists have a democratic right to launch the leaflets, police intervened to prevent clashes between activists and residents. Pyongyang - which refers to the activists as “human scum” - has long condemned the leaflet launches. In recent weeks it has stepped up its demands for Seoul to ban the practice entirely.

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