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. North Korea had previously announced that it would cover South Korean border regions with “piles of paper garbage and dirt” to punish Seoul for previous propaganda campaigns.
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 tactical nuclear weapons. In response, South Korea and the USA increased their defense cooperation.