North Korea sees it as punishment for its neighbor: the regime has once again sent hundreds of garbage balloons to South Korea. Seoul is warning its citizens.
North Korea has once again sent around hundreds of balloons filled with garbage across the border into the South. Around 600 balloons were spotted, South Korea's General Staff announced on Sunday. The balloons contained everything from cigarette butts to plastic, and around 20 to 50 of the garbage-filled balloons were in the air every hour. Security forces would collect them after landing.
Pyongyang had already started a similar campaign a few days ago. On Wednesday, North Korea sent balloons filled with garbage, toilet paper and animal excrement towards South Korea. South Korean media published pictures showing white balloons with garbage bags filled with garbage and apparently also feces. Read more about it here.
North Korea had previously announced that it would cover South Korean border regions with “piles of paper trash and dirt” to punish Seoul for previous propaganda campaigns. In the South Korean capital, citizens were warned not to touch the balloons. They should instead be reported and handed over to the military. Read more about the warning here.
South Korean activists occasionally send balloons across the border containing leaflets directed against North Korea's ruler Kim Jong-un and money for the population in the impoverished north. Pyongyang has repeatedly reacted angrily and has sent similar propaganda balloons across the border in the past.
Relations between North and South Korea are currently at a low point. North Korean leader Kim had announced that he would expand the development of weapons – including the development of tactical nuclear weapons. In response, South Korea and the USA increased their defense cooperation.
