North & South Korea at ‘war’ with balloons?

KOREA – Following another round of activists from South Korea sending balloons carrying USBs loaded with Korean pop, movies, US currency, and letters to North Koreans, North Korea has responded by sending another 300 balloons filled with trash across the border.

According to the South Korean Military, North Korea sent approximately 310 balloons. The latest balloons, launched late Sunday, were filled with scrap paper and plastic, but no toxic materials have been found.

To date, North Korea has reportedly launched over 1,500 trash-filled balloons, some with shit in them. In retaliation, South Korea resumed its loudspeaker broadcasts in the border area, condemning North Korea’s actions as “unacceptable.”

This recent balloon release is part of North Korea’s campaign that began on May 28 and has been described by some as a “tit-for-tat” response to anti-Pyongyang leafleting by South Korean activists. For years, North Korean defectors and activists in South Korea have sent balloons with leaflets into the North, aiming to encourage the North Korean people to rise up and overthrow their government.

North Korea has expressed strong opposition to these efforts over fear that outside information could destabilize its control. In 2014, the situation escalated to the point where North Korea started shooting down balloons carrying leaflets.