North Korea drops trash balloons on the South

World 12:10 29.05.2024

North Korea has dropped at least 150 balloons carrying propaganda leaflets and rubbish in the South, prompting authorities to warn its residents to stay indoors, Ednews reports citing BBC.

South Korea's military also cautioned the public on Wednesday against touching the white balloons and the plastic bags attached to them because they contain "filthy waste and trash".

The balloons have been found in eight of nine provinces in South Korea and are now being analysed by relevant authorities.

North and South Korea have both used balloons in their propaganda campaigns since the Korean War in the 1950s.

The recent incident comes days after North Korea said it would retaliate against the "frequent scattering of leaflets and other rubbish" in border areas by activists in the South.

"Mounds of wastepaper and filth will soon be scattered over the border areas and the interior of the ROK and it will directly experience how much effort is required to remove them," North Korea's vice-minister of defence Kim Kang Il said in a statement to state media on Sunday.

Republic of Korea or ROK is the official name of South Korea while the North is called DPRK or the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

Late on Tuesday, residents living north of the South's capital Seoul and in the border region received text messages from their provincial authorities asking them to "refrain from outdoor activities".

They were also asked to file a report at the nearest military base or police station if they spot an "unidentified object".

Photographs shared on social media show bags attached via string to white translucent balloons carrying toilet paper, dark soil, and batteries, among other contents.

Police and military officers are seen in some of these photographs.

South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported that "some of the fallen balloons carried what appears to be faeces judging from its dark colour and odour".

South Korea's military condemned the act as a "clear violation of international law".

"It seriously threatens the safety of our people. North Korea is entirely liable for what happens due to the balloons and we sternly warn North Korea to immediately stop this inhumane and crass action," the military said.

In addition to anti-Pyongyang propaganda, activists in South Korea have launched balloons carrying among other things, cash, banned media content, and even Choco Pies - a South Korean snack banned in the North.

Earlier this month, a South Korea-based activist group claimed it had sent 20 balloons carrying anti-Pyongyang leaflets and USB sticks containing Korean pop music and music videos across the border.

Seoul's parliament passed a law in December 2020 that criminalises the launch of anti-Pyongyang leaflets, but critics have raised concerns related to freedom of speech and human rights.

North Korea has also launched balloons southward that attacked Seoul's leaders. In one such launch 2016, the balloons reportedly carried toilet paper, cigarette butts and rubbish. Seoul police described them as “hazardous biochemical substances”.

IEPF organized a discussion at COP29 on the role of NGOs in combating the climate crisis

News line

The Impact of Climate Change on Urban Life: A Growing Global Challenge
13:18 18.03.2025
Israel Court Delays Netanyahu Hearing as Military Operations Resume in Gaza
10:58 18.03.2025
Statement by the International Eurasia Press Fund (IEPF) on the European Parliament Resolution of 13 March 2025
20:31 17.03.2025
Humanity’s Energy Odyssey: A Glimpse into the Future through the Kardashev Scale
09:56 14.03.2025
Ceasefire at a Crossroads
02:08 14.03.2025
Dyson Spheres: Is the Solution to Humanity’s Energy Needs in Space?
12:17 13.03.2025
The Mysterious Disapperance
11:46 13.03.2025
The Four Horsemen of Hell: Stress, Depression, Paranoia, and Panic Attacks
12:59 12.03.2025
USA set to present 30 day ceasefire offer to Russia
09:15 12.03.2025
A man who ran lenght of Africa
08:19 12.03.2025
Nepal want the monarchy back
12:08 11.03.2025
“We hope that heritage examples from Western Azerbaijan will be included in the unified national fund”
10:41 11.03.2025
The ancient city of Alexandria faces the risk of sinking
11:29 06.03.2025
The U.S. has stopped military aid. What does this mean for Ukraine?
21:00 04.03.2025
How the climate crisis fuels gender inequality
11:30 03.03.2025
37 years have passed since the Sumgayit events, which were caused by Armenian provocation
15:48 28.02.2025
Member of Azerbaijan Parliament wrote about Khojali Genocide
14:39 26.02.2025
"We did not forget what we saw" Dutch writer wrote about Khojali Genoside
16:09 25.02.2025
Merz won the German election .- Here’s what it means for Europe
00:19 24.02.2025
Chicago hosts second Global Dialogue Conference dedicated to Khojaly genocide
15:46 23.02.2025
How did Western Europe become a puppet?
12:10 15.02.2025
Why Trump’s assault on USAID could change US foreign policy forever
12:06 08.02.2025
Why Gorbochev’s Nobel Peace Prize should be rescinded -Rachel Avraham
15:26 04.02.2025
Parvana Valiyeva has given an interview to the Nigerian press
08:53 30.01.2025
The First Meeting of the IEPF Board of Trustees in 2025 Was Held
19:47 28.01.2025
The historical and cultural heritage of Azerbaijan in Armenia: Obligation of Armenia to preserve and restore
19:55 25.01.2025
"Deprive Gorbachev of the Peace Prize" Open Letter to the Chair and Members of the Norwegian Nobel Committee
16:14 18.01.2025
"Azerbaijan, representing itself in D-9 as a victorious nation, will further solidify its authority."
13:42 16.01.2025
Turning Landmines Into Grapevines In Post-War Azerbaijan -"Forbes" wrote...
16:05 26.12.2024
"Nine countries to become BRICS partners in 2025"
21:09 23.12.2024
"From Zero to Rise" – Umud Mirzayev's Next Meeting with Students Held
17:35 23.12.2024
IEPF Statement on the Resolution of the Lower House of the Swiss Parliament on “Nagorno-Karabakh: Peace Forum”
17:36 19.12.2024
BRI, threats, tariffs and Trump
09:03 04.12.2024
COP29: GLOBAL CALL TO ERADICATE LANDMINES IN AZERBAIJAN AND WORLDWIDE
17:56 18.11.2024
As Trump looms large, can Keir Starmer save the world? Analytics
12:49 17.11.2024
IEPF Holds Side Event at COP29
16:40 15.11.2024
Chief of NGO Branch, Office of Intergovernmental Support and Coordination for SDG, DESA, United Nations visited IEPF
18:08 14.11.2024
Can Trump reconcile Israel and Iran? Analytics
09:11 14.11.2024
IEPF organized a discussion at COP29 on the role of NGOs in combating the climate crisis
18:19 11.11.2024
Why Kamala Harris lost: A flawed candidate or doomed campaign? Analytics
14:32 07.11.2024
Hamısı