North Korea has stirred up tensions once again by launching balloons filled with trash and excrement across the border into South Korea. The South Korean military has advised its citizens to stay indoors and report any sightings of the white balloons to the authorities.
The launch seems to be a retaliatory move against South Korean activists, who have been sending balloons with information about democracy and K-pop music videos into North Korea. This tit-for-tat exchange of propaganda has been ongoing since the Korean War in the 1950s.
While South Korea introduced a ban on balloon launches by activists in 2021, it was overturned by the court for violating freedom of speech. The military has condemned North Korea’s actions as a violation of international law and a threat to the safety of its people.
Amid this tense situation, North Korea’s recent attempt to launch a spy satellite ended in failure, leading to further heated exchanges between the two nations. The North Korean leader, Kim Jong-un, has vowed to take strong action against South Korea for its response to the failed satellite launch.