North Korea Sends Faeces Balloons Into South Korea — Know The History Of Such Balloon Campaigns

Various news publications have reported claims by the South Korean military that from across the border, North Korea is sending balloons into South Korea carrying trash and faeces.

The South Korean military released photographs of such balloons with dirty plastic bags attached to them. Some balloons were found with the word ‘excrement’ written on them. Others contained plastic bottles, shoe parts, used batteries and manure.

As per a South Korean news agency, around 150 such balloons have entered South Korea by Wednesday. Residents have been advised to not go near them and, instead, inform the police or military.

The South Korean military has issued a statement saying this “inhumane and vulgar” act by North Korea violates international law and threaten people’s safety.

Three days earlier, the North Korean side had warned of retaliation against balloons from South Korea. Kim Kang-il, a North Korean defence vice-minister, issued a statement saying, “Tit-for-tat action will be also taken against frequent scattering of leaflets and other rubbish [by South Korea] near border areas.”

Readers may note that ‘balloon campaigns’ between North Korea and South Korea are rather common and have been a long-standing feature of the conflict and propaganda war between the two countries.

South Korean activists are known to send large balloons — typically helium or hydrogen balloons that can fly several kilometres — across the demilitarised zone (border) into the inland areas of North Korea, containing material influencing the North Koreans’ perception about their political leaders.

Such balloons carry leaflets to inform the North Koreans about the South Korean way of life and urge them to rebel against the Kim dynasty ruling North Korea for unification with South Korea under a democratic system. They also carry USB drives and DVDs containing South Korean dramas and ‘K-pop’ music videos.

The North Korean government has vehemently opposed these balloon campaigns; the nuclear state has even threatened military action in response. In the past, the North Korean military has targeted sites used by South Korea for launching balloons carrying propaganda material.

In 2020, North Korea blew up the inter-Korean liaison office in Kaesong, saying that it was a retaliatory measure after a group of ‘defectors’ used balloons to send anti-North Korean leaflets.

‘Defectors’ are those people who migrate, often with great hardship, from North Korea to South Korea, citing oppression. The number of such defectors since 1950s is said to be more than 25,000.

The two countries were divided in 1945 after the Second World War when its Japanese occupation ended. The Soviet Union occupied the North while the United States occupied the South. The North was established as a Communist state under Kim II-Sung while the South eventually turned into a democratic state. It is now a capitalist economy.

Psychological warfare between the two countries began soon after the division, with both sides sending ideological propaganda material across the border, often using balloons.