In a recent escalation of tensions between North and South Korea, the former has reportedly launched over 260 balloons filled with waste and excrement into South Korean territory, according to Seoul's military on Wednesday, May 29.
This unconventional act of aggression adds a fresh dimension to the enduring conflict between the two nations.
The balloons, carrying an assortment of items such as garbage, plastic bottles, old batteries, and manure, were detected landing in various locations, including Seoul, some having traveled more than 180 miles from the border.
Although no immediate damage was reported, chemical and bomb disposal units are currently analyzing the collected objects.
Seoul's Joint Chiefs of Staff have vehemently condemned these acts by North Korea, labeling them as clear violations of international law and posing serious threats to citizen safety. This attack comes on the heels of North Korea's declaration of a "tit-for-tat action" in response to anti-Pyongyang leaflets recently sent by South Korean activists. These developments further strain the already tense relations between the two nations, which are technically still at war.
The actions of North Korea have been denounced as violations of United Nations Security Council resolutions by South Korea, the United States, and Japan.
For years, North Korean defectors and South Korean activists have utilized balloons to send leaflets northward, encouraging opposition to the Pyongyang regime. In a bid to disrupt Kim Jong Un's information control, these activists have also launched balloons carrying one-dollar banknotes, radios, CDs, and leaflets denouncing the regime since 2014.
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