North Korea sends 150 faeces, garbage balloons to South Korea in decades old propaganda war

This balloon offensive is one of the often bizarre methods used in the Koreas' propaganda battles.

In an alarming escalation of the long-standing tensions between North and South Korea, the latter has been hit with a barrage of balloons carrying waste and faeces, prompting urgent warnings for residents to stay indoors. The South Korean military has advised the public to avoid contact with the 150 balloons launched, which have been spotted across eight of the country's nine provinces.

The recent incident is the latest twist in the decades-old propaganda war between the two Koreas, with both sides historically using balloons to distribute leaflets and other materials since the Korean War in the 1950s.

This recent North Korean offensive appears to be a direct response to activities by South Korean activists, who have been sending anti-Pyongyang propaganda into the North.

"Mounds of wastepaper and filth will soon be scattered over the border areas and the interior of the ROK, and it will directly experience how much effort is required to remove them," warned Kim Kang Il, North Korea's vice-minister of defence, in a statement to state media on Sunday.

The Republic of Korea (ROK) authorities issued urgent advisories late Tuesday, instructing residents north of Seoul and in the border regions to minimise outdoor activities and report any unusual objects to the nearest military or police facility.

Photos circulating on social media depict plastic bags tied to translucent white balloons, containing items such as toilet paper, dark soil resembling human excreta, and batteries. South Korea's Yonhap news agency confirmed that some of the balloons contained faeces, identifiable by their colour and odour.

South Korea's military condemned the act as a "clear violation of international law," declaring it a severe threat to public safety. "North Korea is entirely liable for what happens due to the balloons and we sternly warn North Korea to immediately stop this inhumane and crass action," stated the military.

This balloon offensive is one of the often bizarre methods used in the Koreas' propaganda battles. Earlier this month, a South Korean activist group announced it had launched 20 balloons carrying anti-Pyongyang leaflets and USB sticks loaded with South Korean pop music across the border.

Despite a December 2020 law criminalising the distribution of such materials, these activities continue, drawing criticism over concerns for freedom of speech and human rights.

Historically, North Korea has used similar tactics. In 2016, balloons launched from the North contained toilet paper, cigarette butts, and other rubbish, which Seoul police identified as "hazardous biochemical substances."