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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-13612837
Kim Jong-il portrait used as South Korean army target
By Lucy Williamson BBC News, Seoul
A firing target depicting North Korea's founder Kim Il-sung (top L), current leader Kim Jong-il (R) and the latter's third son Kim Jong-un A firing target showing Kim Jong-il (top R), his youngest son, and the leader's late father (top L)
South Korea has said it will tell its army training units to stop using photographs of North Korea's ruling family for target practice.
Military units have admitted to using the pictures of Kim Jong-il, his youngest son, and the leader's late father as targets during firing drills.
Images of the portraits positioned in the crosshairs of a target have been splashed across the local press here.
The reports have surfaced at a tense time in inter-Korean relations.
South Korea's defence ministry initially said it was up to the discretion of individual commanders to decide what images their troops shot at, but government sources now say they are putting an end to the practice, and will be instructing all units to stop using target papers printed with pictures of the North's first family.
One military official was quoted in a local newspaper as saying the practice was intended to "boost battle spirit" following the bombardment of a South Korean island by the North last year.
Attitudes within the South Korean military have reportedly hardened since that attack, which came less than a year after the sinking of a South Korean warship close to the border with North Korea.
http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/odd/new...oto-used-for-south-korea-target-practise.html
Kim Jong-il photo used for South Korea target practise
Thursday, June 2 2011, 11:35 BST
By Ben Lee, Editorial Assistant
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Photos of Kim Jong-il have been used as target practise by South Korean soldiers.
As well as the North Korean leader, pictures of Jong-il's son and deceased father are also used in infantry training camps around South Korea, reports AFP.
The practise is said to be "boosting battle spirit" after an attack from North Korea killed four South Koreans, a military official told major South Korean newspaper Chosun Ilbo.
The official said: "Some voice concern that the practice can provoke the North, but one should not forget the North staged two attacks that killed our civilians and soldiers."
A defence ministry spokesperson revealed that soldiers will be told to stop using photos of Kim Jong-il and his family. However, he added that it is up to each training centre to decide whether to follow the ministry's advice.
"Details of military practices are for each training centre to decide", stated the spokesperson.
It was recently reported that the video game Homefront had to be censored in Japan, removing all mentions of Kim Jong-il and North Korea. The game's story involves an alternate timeline which includes the death of the North Korean dictator.
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