North Korea recently dropped around 90 loads of waste over the neighboring capital and surrounding region, provoking a strong response from South Korea. The South Korean military accused North Korea of launching balloons filled with trash towards Seoul in retaliation for South Korea dropping propaganda flyers over its neighbor.
These balloons contained items such as cigarette butts, plastic, and human waste, with some even having timers attached to burst mid-air. The South Korean Defense Minister called the incident shameful and a violation of the Armistice Agreement that halted the Korean War.
Kim Yo Jong, the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, defended the balloon launch as a response to similar tactics by South Korea. Tensions between the two countries have escalated, with North Korea attempting spy satellite launches and ballistic missile tests, while South Korea and the US conducted joint military exercises.
The waste balloon campaign has sparked controversy and threats of further retaliation from North Korea, indicating a volatile situation on the Korean peninsula.