North Korea Threatens Attack On South Korea For Propaganda Balloons

North Korea has threatened to attack a South Korean border area after Pyongyang activists announced a plan to launch leaflets from balloons next week.

South Korea immediately vowed that, if the North attacks, they will not hesitate to retaliate, reports The Washington Post. North Korea is no stranger to threats like this, and has yet to follow through on one.

The announcement on Friday came just one day after South Korea’s President, Lee Myung-bak made a surprise visit to a front-line island that was shelled by North Korea in 2010, warning against provocation.

The North’s National Defense Commission responded to Lee’s statement on Saturday, saying that he was simply trying to garner political support for his platform ahead of the December presidential elections.

Friday’s statement by the North’s military stated that “merciless military strike by the Western Front will be put into practice without warning,” should the activists follow through with plans to launch leaflets on Monday that criticize North Korean leaders. The statement also warned residents in the border area that they should evacuate in advance.

Reuters notes that some of the leaflets will be printed on plastic bags and will contain $1 bills. Along with the dollars, the bags themselves are reportedly treasured by North Koreans, many of whom lack daily necessities.

South Korean Defense Minister Kim Kwan-jin told a parliamentary committee that the South will certainly retaliate should its neighbor to the north attack. Kim stated. “If [a North Korean strike] were to happen, there would be a perfect response against the source of the attack.”

The threat to shell South Korea is the most direct one that North Korea has made in recent months.