Garbage Balloons from North Korea Increase Safety Concerns in South Korea

Tensions Rise with New Provocation

North Korea has started sending large balloons filled with trash into South Korea, which cause triggered new tensions between the two neighbouring countries. On Tuesday night, South Korea’s military noticed over 150 balloons carrying plastic bags of waste. These bags contained plastic scraps, paper, dirt, and other garbage.

South Korea Responds

The South Korean military, known as the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS), has released photos showing the trash spilling onto roads and sidewalks. The JCS has warned that these actions break international law and put South Korean citizens at risk. Local governments in the northern provinces of Gyeonggi and Gangwon have told people to stay indoors to avoid facing this situation on the road with balloons carrying trash.

Why North Korea Sends Trash Filled Balloons ?

North Korea’s actions seem to be a response to South Korean activists who send leaflets, food, medicine, and USB sticks with news and entertainment into North Korea. These materials are banned in North Korea, which calls them dangerous provocations. Despite a South Korean law from 2020 banning these activities, some activists continue their efforts, hoping to show North Koreans what life is like outside their country.

North Korea’s Vice Minister of National Defense, Kim Kang Il, said that North Korea will continue to retaliate by sending more waste-filled balloons. This incident adds to the long history of psychological warfare between the two Koreas, which has included the use of balloons since the Korean War in the 1950s.

Call for International Attention

As tensions escalate, South Korean officials are calling for international attention to North Korea’s provocative actions. They urge the global community to hold North Korea accountable for violating international laws and endangering civilians. The situation remains fragile, with both nations maintaining strong military presences along the border.