North Korea Sends Over 600 Balloons Filled with Trash to South Korea

North Korea has sent at least 600 balloons filled with various types of trash, from cigarette butts to plastic packaging, to its neighbor, the Republic of Korea. According to The Guardian, local authorities began collecting the contents and inspecting them after their descent.

Military officials reported that approximately 20-50 new balloons appeared in the air each hour. The balloons landed in various regions of Korea, including Seoul.

This week, North Korea started sending trash balloons, which it called a sincere gift, in response to propaganda balloons launched by South Korea. Since the start of Pyongyang's campaign, around 900 trash balloons have already landed.

The balloons are associated with various debris, including remnants of cigarettes, pieces of plastic and fabric, and paper. No hazardous materials have been found. However, local residents have been instructed not to touch these balloons and to notify authorities.

South Korean officials have threatened to respond to such "irrational provocations" from the neighboring country. The Guardian recalls that the Korean authorities indeed send balloons to North Korea filled with materials against leader Kim Jong-un, flash drives, and sometimes even money or rice.

In 2018, the leaders of the two countries agreed to cease non-friendly actions. However, in 2020, South Korea imposed sanctions against North Korea for launching balloons, but this did not deter activists. Later, South Korea's Constitutional Court annulled the law criminalizing such activities, recognizing them as a form of self-expression.