North Korea’s Trashy Provocation Sparks Outrage in South Korea
In a bizarre and provocative move, North Korea sent 3,500 balloons carrying 15 tonnes of trash, including cigarette butts and animal excrement, over the border into South Korea. The incident has sparked outrage and frustration in the South, with the government announcing plans to suspend a military agreement aimed at easing tensions between the two nations.
The trash-laden balloons were reportedly sent in retaliation to anti-Pyongyang propaganda leaflets sent by activists in the South, some of whom have defected from the North. However, the North’s actions have been widely condemned as “irrational” and “low-class” by the South Korean government.
The incident began on May 29, when South Korea detected around 260 balloons, with the furthest reported sighting in the city of Geochang, over 200km from North Korea’s borders. The North continued to send balloons in the days that followed, with sightings reported on June 1 and 2.
Previously North Korea Sends 260 Balloons Carrying Trash and Animal Poop into South Korea
Previously, North Korea has sent over 260 balloons carrying trash and animal excrement into South Korea, according to reports from the Korean military. The balloons, which were detected by Wednesday afternoon, were found to be carrying litter such as plastic bottles, batteries, shoe parts, and animal feces.
The furthest reported sighting of the balloons was in the city of Geochang, which is 218 kilometers south of Seoul. The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) criticized the move, stating that it “violates international law” and “seriously threatens our people’s safety.”
The JCS has warned North Korea to stop its “inhumane and vulgar act” and has advised residents to report any sightings of the balloons to nearby military or police authorities. The authorities are working to come up with safety measures and are cooperating with the U.S.-led UN Command supervising activities in the demilitarized zone separating the North and the South.
The incident is believed to be a response to anti-Pyongyang propaganda leaflets sent by South Korean activists, which North Korea has repeatedly criticized and called for a stop to. The sending of balloons carrying trash and animal excrement is seen as a dangerous provocation and a violation of international law.