World Politics
North Korea Sends Balloons Filled with Waste into South Korea
One photograph notably had the word "excrement" written on a bag.
SEOUL, May 29, 2024 — In a provocative and unusual escalation of tensions, North Korea has launched hundreds of balloons filled with trash and excrement across the heavily fortified border into South Korea. The South Korean military reported that by Wednesday afternoon, more than 260 balloons had been detected, with many landing in various parts of the country, including the capital, Seoul.
The balloons, described by North Korean officials as "gifts of sincerity," carried plastic bags filled with animal feces, household waste, and other debris. Photographs released by the South Korean military showed inflated balloons with plastic bags tied to them, and other images depicted trash strewn around collapsed balloons.
Retaliation and Psychological Warfare
North Korea's actions were reportedly in retaliation for ongoing propaganda campaigns by North Korean defectors and activists in South Korea. These activists regularly send balloons carrying anti-Pyongyang leaflets, food, medicine, money, and USB sticks loaded with K-pop music videos and dramas across the border. Kim Yo Jong, the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and a powerful ruling party official, issued a statement condemning Seoul for criticizing the balloons while defending its citizens' freedom of expression. She pledged to send dozens of times the number of balloons that South Korea had sent into North Korea.
An official at Seoul's presidential office suggested that North Korea might be testing South Korea's reaction to these provocations. The official emphasized the need for a calm response, despite the psychological warfare and small-scale threats posed by the balloons. The South Korean military's explosives ordnance unit and chemical and biological warfare response team were deployed to inspect and collect the objects, and an alert was issued warning residents to keep away and report any sightings to authorities.
Public Safety Concerns
The South Korean military denounced the act as a "clear violation of international law," stating that it poses a threat to public safety. The military warned that the balloons could fall not only on residential areas but also on airports and highways, potentially causing damage. Residents in the northern parts of Seoul and the border region received text messages from provincial authorities, advising them to avoid outdoor activities and report any unidentified objects.
Local media reported that some of the balloons contained a dark substance presumed to be feces due to its color and odor. Other items found included plastic, batteries, shoe parts, and manure. The South Korean military confirmed the presence of fertilizers in the balloons, although no human waste was detected in this instance.
Historical Context and Ongoing Tensions
The use of balloons for propaganda purposes is not new in the Korean Peninsula. Since the Korean War in the 1950s, both North and South Korea have employed balloons to float propaganda campaigns across the border. However, the latest incident marks a significant escalation in the long-standing conflict between the two Koreas.
North Korea's vice-minister of defense, Kim Kang Il, had previously warned that "mounds of wastepaper and filth" would be scattered over the border areas and the interior of South Korea in response to the leafletting by South Korean activists. This latest move by North Korea reflects a shift in its approach towards the South, with analysts suggesting that it could be part of a strategy to portray South Koreans as unworthy of future unification plans with the North Korean populace.
Expert Analysis
Peter Ward, a research fellow at the Sejong Institute, noted that sending balloons filled with waste is a far less risky tactic than overt military action. "These kinds of grey zone tactics are more difficult to counter and hold less risk of uncontrollable military escalation, even if they're horrid for the civilians who are ultimately targeted," he said.
Jacco Zwetsloot, the Seoul-based host of the NK News Podcast, suggested that the latest launches reflect a change in North Korea's approach towards the South. "Once you send poop – or poopy toilet paper or trash – that’s liable to get the people offside rather than on-side," he said. "It could be part of the strategy of finding South Koreans hopelessly tainted and unworthy of being part of future unification plans with the North Korean populace."
Conclusion
The incident underscores the ongoing tensions and the potential for further escalation between the two Koreas. As both sides continue to engage in psychological warfare and propaganda campaigns, the international community remains watchful of the developments on the Korean Peninsula. The South Korean government has vowed to respond calmly but firmly to North Korea's provocations, emphasizing the need to protect public safety and uphold international law.