260 balloons filled with 'trash and filth' land in South Korea, South Korean military says North Korea sent them

 

Balloons that landed in Cheorwon County, South Korea (29th

South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said on the 29th that a large number of balloons filled with garbage and waste had arrived from North Korea, totalling at least 260 balloons, and authorities have warned citizens to stay indoors.

The JCS warned people not to touch the white balloons or the plastic bags attached to them as they contain "unclean waste and rubbish".

The balloons have been found in eight different areas and are currently being analysed by authorities.

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

Days before the incident, North Korea said it intended to retaliate against South Korean activists for "frequent scattering of leaflets and other litter" along the military demarcation line.

"Mountains of waste paper and filth will soon be strewn along the Military Demarcation Line and on the Republic of Korea side, and people will experience firsthand how much effort is required to remove them," North Korea's Vice Defense Minister Kim Kang-il said in a statement to state media on the 26th.

Residents in areas north of the capital Seoul and near the Military Demarcation Line received text messages from local authorities late on the 28th urging them to "refrain from outdoor activities."

They were also urged to report any "unidentified objects" they spotted to the nearest military base or police station

South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said the balloons contained "filthy waste and garbage" and that authorities were analyzing them

null

Images shared on social media showed white, translucent balloons with bags attached to them with strings, containing items including toilet paper, black soil and batteries.

Some of the photos feature police officers and military officers.

South Korea's Yonhap News Agency reported that "some of the falling balloons contained what appeared to be feces, judging from their dark color and smell."

The South Korean military condemned the actions as a "clear violation of international law."

"This is a serious threat to the safety of our people. North Korea bears full responsibility for anything that happens with this balloon. We sternly warn North Korea to immediately stop this inhumane and reckless behavior."

In addition to anti-regime propaganda, South Korean activists have released balloons filled with cash, media content banned in North Korea and chocolate pies.

Earlier this month, a group of South Korea-based activists allegedly flew 20 balloons containing leaflets critical of the North Korean regime and USB sticks with K-pop music and videos across the military demarcation line into North Korea.

In December 2020, South Korea's National Assembly passed a bill making it a criminal offence to distribute leaflets criticising the North Korean regime, but opponents have raised concerns about freedom of speech and human rights

North Korea has also sent balloons south to attack South Korean leaders, and in 2016 balloons from North Korea reportedly contained toilet paper, cigarette butts, and trash, which the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency described as "harmful biochemical substances."

Share on Google Plus

About somrat

Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exerci tation ullamcorper suscipit lobortis nisl ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis autem vel eum iriure dolor in hendrerit in vulputate velit esse molestie consequat, vel illum dolore eu feugiat nulla facilisis at vero eros et accumsan et iusto odio dignissim qui blandit praesent luptatum zzril delenit augue duis.