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North Korea Drops Filth-Filled Balloons On South Korea

Harshad Dewangan 29 May 2024

North Korea dropped balloons carrying “filth” or “garbage” on its southern neighbour on Wednesday morning. The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) of South Korea accused North Korea sent 260 balloons across the country, including Seoul and even the southeastern province of South Gyeongsang.

According to the images shared by the JCS, two large balloons were seen carrying plastic bags and scattering various items such as paper sheets, plastic fragments, and what appears to be dirt onto streets and sidewalks. While no damage has been reported so far, a JCS officer noted that the fallen balloons seemed to have transported a variety of garbage, including plastic bottles, batteries, shoe parts, and even manure, as reported by Yonhap.

In response, the local government issued alerts to the northern provinces of Gyeonggi and Gangwon, warning them about these “unidentified objects” and advising residents to stay indoors. The JCS indicated that these packages could potentially damage homes, airports and roads.

The action is considered a possible retaliation against South Korean activists who regularly send items to North Korea, including propaganda leaflets, food, medicine, radios, and USB sticks containing South Korean news and TV dramas, which are prohibited in isolated North Korea. This was reported by CNN, citing North Korean state media KCNA.

Activists in the South, including North Korean defectors, have been sending these materials for a long time using balloons, drones, and bottles via the cross-border river, despite the South Korean government’s prohibition of such activities in 2020.