North Korea has released 90 balloons carrying propaganda leaflets and various waste materials into two border provinces in South Korea. This has led South Korean authorities to advise residents to stay indoors and avoid contact with the balloons and their attached plastic bags, which are reported to contain “filthy waste and trash.”
On Wednesday, South Korea’s military warned the public against touching the white balloons found in Gyeonggi and Gangwon provinces, citing potential health risks. These balloons are currently being analyzed by relevant authorities.
The use of balloons for propaganda purposes dates back to the Korean War in the 1950s and has been employed by both North and South Korea. This recent incident follows North Korea’s promise to retaliate against what it described as the “frequent scattering of leaflets and other rubbish” by activists in South Korea. North Korea’s Vice-Minister of Defense, Kim Kang Il, stated that “mounds of wastepaper and filth will soon be scattered over the border areas and the interior of the ROK,” referring to the Republic of Korea, South Korea’s official name.
On Tuesday evening, residents in the northern regions of Seoul and the border area received text alerts from local authorities, urging them to “refrain from outdoor activities” and to report any “unidentified objects” to the nearest military or police facility.
Photos circulating on social media show the balloons with plastic bags attached, containing items such as toilet paper, dark soil, and batteries. Some photos also show police and military officers at the scene. According to South Korea’s Yonhap news agency, some of the balloons appeared to carry faeces based on their color and odor.
The South Korean military condemned North Korea’s actions, calling them a “clear violation of international law” and a threat to public safety. “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 stated.
The incident is part of an ongoing propaganda war between the two Koreas. Activists in South Korea have launched balloons carrying anti-Pyongyang leaflets, cash, banned media content, and even Choco Pies—a South Korean snack banned in North Korea. Earlier this month, an activist group claimed to have sent 20 balloons carrying anti-Pyongyang leaflets and USB sticks with Korean pop music and videos into North Korea.
Despite a law passed by Seoul’s parliament in December 2020 criminalizing the launch of anti-Pyongyang leaflets, critics argue that the legislation restricts freedom of speech and human rights.
North Korea has also sent balloons to the South in the past, including a 2016 incident where balloons reportedly carried toilet paper, cigarette butts, and other waste, which Seoul police described as “hazardous biochemical substances.”
