S. Korean activists send leaflets despite North’s threatsOctober 29, 2012 - 17:40 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Activists in South Korea have sent propaganda leaflets to the North, a week after Pyongyang threatened military action over a similar launch, BBC News reported. The group floated 50,000 leaflets in several balloons from a park near the border town of Paju, watched by a heavy police presence. Local residents trying to stop the move got into minor scuffles with activists. Authorities prevented a similar launch last week after North Korea said it would respond with a "military strike". Residents in the area concerned that Pyongyang would carry out its threat gathered to protest against the release of the balloons. “Paju residents can't live properly due to worries. They come here way too frequently,'' a local shop owner, Kim Bok-nam, told Reuters. ''Last time the North warned to directly strike here, so we came to protest since we can't tolerate it anymore.'' One of the activists, Choi Woo-won, dismissed the North's warning as "empty threats". Activists - some of whom are defectors from North Korea - have sent leaflets on many past occasions. North Korea condemns the move but specific threats are rare. Last week, however, Pyongyang threatened to fire on South Korean territory if activists went ahead with a launch. South Korean authorities prevented the launch from taking place, as the military went into a state of alert and hundreds of residents were evacuated. Tensions have been high on the Korean peninsula since the sinking of a South Korean navy ship in March 2010 which Seoul blamed on Pyongyang, and the shelling of a border island eight months later. North and South Korea remain technically at war following the 1950-53 Korean War, which ended in an armistice. But North Korea has not fired on the Southern mainland since the end of the war. Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | Surveying works underway in Armenia’s Kirants Surveying works are underway in the Armenian village of Kirants in the northern Tavush province. Armenia calls for prohibiting threats of attacks on nuclear facilities Armenia has raised the need for a treaty prohibiting attacks on nuclear facilities devoted to peaceful purposes. Ameriabank's Trade Finance portfolio enriched with four prestigious awards from EBRD and IFC Ameriabank received the awards from international financial institutions in recognition of its trade finance operations. Armenian Economy Minister to make trip to UAE May 20-22 A delegation led by Minister of Economy Gevorg Papoyan will travel to the UAE capital of Abu Dhabi on May 20-22 |