South Koreans release anti-North leaflets

North and South Koreans on the southern side of the border between the two countries fly a message of hope in 10 balloons to their northern neighbours.

A largely symbolic gesture, the balloons contain messages denouncing the Pyongyang leadership - they hope they will reach a few of North Korea's estimated 24 million people.

The event comes at a moment of tension, as the North celebrated the 100th anniversary of Kim Il-sung's birth with a rocket launch that riled the international community.

(SOUNDBITE) (Korean) PRESIDENT OF FIGHTERS FOR FREE NORTH KOREA ASSOCIATION PARK SANG-HAK, SAYING:

"Kim Il-sung is the man who has left 7 million Koreans in North and South Korea hurt and scarred irreparably. During the celebrations (for his 100th birthday), his grandson conducted an insane mission, launching a missile -- they could feed twenty million North Koreans for a year with the cost of the launch."

The balloons also carry a thousand one U.S. dollar bills, and 300 copies of DVDs critical of the North's hereditary leadership.

Tensions have been high between the two Koreas for over half a century.

They are still technically at war since the 1950-53 Korean War ended in an armistice without a peace treaty.

Travis Brecher, Reuters