South Korea on alert as North Korean balloons carry mysterious items

According to Reuters, South Korea has warned residents near the border with North Korea to stay alert. The warning is related to the detection of over 90 balloons transporting various items, including what appears to be trash and feces. The South Korean military urges people to avoid the balloons and report them to the army or police.

The South Korean military stated that unidentified objects were seen near the heavily fortified border, which is likely from North Korea. They insisted that people stay away and report them to the military or police.

By Wednesday, over 90 balloons had been detected, some of which had landed, while others were still airborne, according to Yonhap News, citing a military source.

Photos published in South Korean media depicted an inflated white balloon with a plastic bag attached to it. Other photos showed scattered trash.

The North Korean Deputy Defense Minister stated on Sunday, promising to use "strong power for self-defence" and warned that "mounds of waste-paper and filth" would be sent to the South in response to the flying "dirty things" from South Korea.

This references an ongoing campaign by South Korean activists who have been sending balloons with leaflets criticizing Kim Jong Un’s regime to the North for years. The packages also contain USB drives with K-pop music videos.

North Korea and South Korea remain technically at war. An armistice agreement that ended the fighting in the Korean War, which took place from 1950 to 1953, is still in effect.