South Korea Faces Influx of North Korean Trash Balloons

North Korea has come up with a new tactic to deal with South Korea by sending balloons filled with trash across the border. These balloons are being carried by large balloons.

The South Korean military first noticed a significant number of balloons coming from North Korea on Tuesday night. By Wednesday morning, they had detected over 150 balloons, according to the country's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS).

Photos released by the JCS reveal two large balloons carrying plastic bags. Some of the bags are torn, causing plastic scraps, paper sheets, and what looks like dirt to fall onto the streets and sidewalks.

The JCS mentioned that the balloons currently hold "filth and garbage" and are under investigation by government organizations. They also stated that the military is working together with the United Nations Command.

South Korean authorities said the balloons, which landed in several locations, were filled with "filth and garbage."

South Korean authorities said the balloons, which landed in several locations, were filled with "filth and garbage."

South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff expressed their concern over North Korea's recent actions, stating that they clearly violate international law and pose a serious threat to the safety of their citizens. They emphasized that all responsibility for the North Korean balloons lies solely with North Korea, and issued a stern warning for them to immediately cease these inhumane and low-level actions.

Local governments in the northern Gyeonggi and Gangwon provinces have issued warnings to residents about "unidentified objects" that pose a risk to residential areas, airports, and highways. They have advised against outdoor activities to ensure safety.

According to North Korean state media KCNA, the sending of these objects is a retaliatory measure against South Korean activists who frequently send prohibited materials to North Korea. These materials include propaganda leaflets, food, medicine, radios, and USB sticks containing South Korean news and television dramas, all of which are banned in the isolated totalitarian regime.

Campaigners in the South, including defectors from North Korea, have been sending materials across the border using balloons, drones, and floating bottles. This has continued even after South Korea's parliament banned these actions in 2020.

According to KCNA, North Korea's Vice Minister of National Defense, Kim Kang Il, stated that scattering leaflets with balloons is seen as a dangerous provocation that could be used for military purposes.

North Korea accused South Korea of engaging in "psychological warfare" by spreading "various dirty things" near border areas. The North vowed to retaliate with "tit for tat action."

The deflated balloon that carried the North Korean trash bags. Balloons have previously been used by South Korean activists to send materials across the border.

The deflated balloon that carried the North Korean trash bags. Balloons have previously been used by South Korean activists to send materials across the border.

South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff

Kim warned that if wastepaper and filth continue to pile up in border areas and the interior of South Korea, it will be a challenge to clean up. He emphasized that immediate action will be taken to protect national sovereignty, security, and interests.

FILE - In this photo provided by the North Korean government, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un gives a lecture at the Central Cadres Training School in North Korea on Oct. 17, 2022. Independent journalists were not given access to cover the event depicted in this image distributed by the North Korean government. The content of this image is as provided and cannot be independently verified. (Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP, File)

• In this photo provided by the North Korean government, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is seen giving a lecture at the Central Cadres Training School in North Korea on Oct. 17, 2022.
• Independent journalists were not allowed to cover the event shown in this image distributed by the North Korean government.
• The content of this image is provided by the North Korean government and cannot be verified independently.

Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service/AP/FILE

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Kim also decried joint US-South Korea military drills, which have increased in recent years as tensions have risen in the Korean peninsula.

The law passed in 2020 not only banned the sending of leaflets but also put a stop to loudspeaker propaganda broadcasts. These broadcasts were previously used by South Korea's military for psychological warfare against the North, but they were discontinued after a summit in 2018.

Despite the new law, activists, including defector Park Sang-hak, have expressed their intention to continue sending materials to North Korea. Park Sang-hak has been sending materials back to his homeland for 15 years and is determined to keep doing so to provide North Koreans with a rare glimpse of the outside world.

Fighters for a Free North Korea recently sent 20 balloons towards North Korea earlier this month. These balloons carried 300,000 leaflets that criticized Kim Jong Un and 2,000 USB sticks filled with K-pop and music videos.

The organization stated that their goal is to encourage the people of North Korea to stand up against Kim Jong Un. They believe that by sending these leaflets, they can inspire their compatriots in North Korea to take action.

North Korean teens sentenced to hard labour for watching South Korean dramas.

North Korean teens sentenced to hard labour for watching South Korean dramas.

SAND INSTITUTE NEWSLETTER/Reuters

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Rare footage has emerged showing North Korean teenagers being punished for watching South Korean dramas, according to a research group. For many years, North Korea has maintained strict control over the flow of information in and out of the country. This includes banning foreign materials such as movies and books, with only a few exceptions approved by the state. Defectors report that individuals caught with forbidden foreign items often experience harsh consequences.

Earlier this year, a South Korean research group shared rare footage that they said depicted North Korean teenagers being punished with hard labor for watching and sharing K-dramas.

In recent decades, North Korea's relationship with China has grown, leading to some easing of restrictions. This allowed certain South Korean influences, including aspects of its pop culture, to enter North Korea. This was especially noticeable in 2017 and 2018, when relations between the two countries improved.

But the situation in North Korea deteriorated in the following years and diplomatic talks fell apart – prompting strict rules to snap back into place in the North.

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