NKorea denounces radio broadcasts from the South
SEOUL (AFP) — North Korea on Sunday accused South Korean conservatives of stepping up propaganda radio broadcasts against Pyongyang in collaboration with the US and Japan.
A spokesman for the Central Committee of the Democratic Front for the Reunification of the Fatherland, a communist party-run body, warned the broadcasts would only increase tension in inter-Korean ties.
The spokesman claimed radio stations such as "Broadcasting for the North," "Missionary Broadcasting for the North" and "Voice of Freedom" were "an intolerable confrontation campaign against the nation and reunification," he said in a statement.
Pyongyang's regime for decades has banned its residents from accessing outside broadcasts with all radios or TV sets tuned in to state-run domestic media to tighten control further over the country.
The spokesman said recently launched South Korean radio channels were teaming up with Japanese and US-funded radio broadcasts like "Radio Free Asia" and "Voice of America" to beef up their campaigns against Pyongyang.
"The South Korean conservative ruling quarters... should be held fully accountable for all the consequences to be entailed by their smear broadcasting moves," the spokesman said.
South Korea had conservative businessman-turned-politician Lee Myung-Bak inaugurated as new president last month after a 10-year liberal rule.
Critics say Lee's predecessors, under a "sunshine" engagement policy, gave the North massive aid for too little in return. Lee says he will link aid more closely to nuclear disarmament.
