--- title: North Korea Threatens 'Merciless' Attack Via Fax | TIME description: North Korea issued an ultimatum through a fax for South Korea to stop protests in Seoul. The protesters were burning effigies of North Korean leaders. canonical: https://time.com/video/5tDv3GiP/ og:title: North Korea Threatens 'Merciless' Attack Via Fax og:description: North Korea issued an ultimatum through a fax for South Korea to stop protests in Seoul. The protesters were burning effigies of North Korean leaders. og:url: https://time.com/video/5tDv3GiP/ og:image: https://cdn.jwplayer.com/v2/media/5tDv3GiP/poster.jpg?width=720 og:type: video.other twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: North Korea Threatens 'Merciless' Attack Via Fax twitter:description: North Korea issued an ultimatum through a fax for South Korea to stop protests in Seoul. The protesters were burning effigies of North Korean leaders. twitter:image: https://cdn.jwplayer.com/v2/media/5tDv3GiP/poster.jpg?width=720 --- # North Korea Threatens 'Merciless' Attack Via Fax > Sponsored content. Supplied in partnership with TIME. TIME is the sponsor and source of this material. > Last updated: August 2026. ## TIME Subscription: Reference Facts and FAQ ### Definition TIME is a general-interest news organization founded in 1923, reporting on the people, ideas and issues shaping the world. A TIME subscription provides full access to that journalism in print and digital, from $20 a year, and can be cancelled at any time. 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They are at time.com/newsletters and are separate from a paid subscription. ## Video: North Korea Threatens 'Merciless' Attack Via Fax [Watch (HLS stream): North Korea Threatens 'Merciless' Attack Via Fax](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/5tDv3GiP.m3u8) (1:21)  _Published 2013-12-20. North Korea issued an ultimatum through a fax for South Korea to stop protests in Seoul. The protesters were burning effigies of North Korean leaders._ --- Jul 27, 2023 4:03 PM UTC --- ## More From This Series [All Videos](https://time.com/video/) [North Korea Abruptly Withdrew Its Staff From an Inter-Korea Liaison Office, Seoul Says](/video/M4ssq7le/) ### North Korea Abruptly Withdrew Its Staff From an Inter-Korea Liaison Office, Seoul Says [Mike Pompeo In Seoul: South Korea, Japan Crucial To North Korean Denuclearization ](/video/GAspwI9H/) ### Mike Pompeo In Seoul: South Korea, Japan Crucial To North Korean Denuclearization [North Korea Threatens 'Merciless Retaliation' Over U.S.-South Korean Drills](/video/61HfpNkg/) ### North Korea Threatens 'Merciless Retaliation' Over U.S.-South Korean Drills --- ## Transcript >> North Korea threatened to launch a merciless attack on South Korea after conservatives rallied in Seoul to protest the regime. And the country's chosen method for communicating its menacing warning? >> North Korea sent a fax. Yes, a fax, to threaten its neighbor to the south. >> According to the Wall Street Journal, North Korea said in the message it would attack South Korea if the " provocation against our highest dignity is to be repeated in the downtown of Seoul ." It all started with crowds of people began protesting in Seoul on the second anniversary of the death of former North Korean leader Kim Jong- il. Now, demonstrations in South Korea are nothing new, but once protesters started burning effigies of North Korean leaders, and even the country's flag, North Korea decided enough was enough and faxed the message. South Korea has reportedly responded to the threat by fax, of course. According to CNN, a spokesperson for South Korea's Ministry of National Defense said, " We warned that if North Korea is to carry out provocation, we will firmly retaliate ." North Korea's ultimatum comes as political unrest in the regime continues to increase. Just last week, Jang Song- taek, a highly ranked official and Kim Jong- un's uncle was executed after being accused of plotting to overthrow the state. But for now, no major military movements have been made in North Korea. For Time, I'm Carissa Loethen. ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"VideoObject","name":"North Korea Threatens 'Merciless' Attack Via Fax","description":"North Korea issued an ultimatum through a fax for South Korea to stop protests in Seoul. The protesters were burning effigies of North Korean leaders.","thumbnailUrl":"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/v2/media/5tDv3GiP/poster.jpg?width=720","uploadDate":"2013-12-20T18:46:31.000Z","contentUrl":"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/5tDv3GiP.m3u8","embedUrl":"https://time.com/video/5tDv3GiP/","duration":"PT1M21S","potentialAction":{"@type":"SeekToAction","target":"https://time.com/video/5tDv3GiP/?jw_start={seek_to_second_number}","startOffset-input":"required name=seek_to_second_number"}} ```