North Korea has reportedly despatched balloons full of trash, rest room paper and animal feces into neighboring South Korea, a transfer condemned by Seoul as “low class.”
Photographs exhibiting white balloons bearing rubbish luggage filled with trash and what seemed to be excrement have been shared extensively by South Korean media, after the North warned this weekend it might bathe border areas in “mounds of wastepaper and filth” to punish Seoul.
Seoul’s Joint Chiefs of Staff mentioned that “unidentified objects believed to be North Korean propaganda leaflets have been identified in the Gyeonggi-Gangwon border area and the military is taking action.”
“Citizens should refrain from outdoor activities, do not come into contact with any unknown objects, and report them to the nearest military base or police,” it mentioned in an announcement despatched to Agence France-Presse (AFP).
It mentioned that the North’s actions “clearly violate international laws and seriously threaten the safety of our people,” saying a few of the balloons had contained suspected trash, which the army was checking.
“We sternly warn the North to immediately stop its inhumane and low-class actions,” it added.
Late Tuesday evening, Gyeonggi province issued a textual content message alert to residents saying: “Refrain from outdoor activities and report (objects from North Korea) to military bases when identified.”
South Korean activists generally launch balloons carrying anti-Kim Jong Un regime propaganda leaflets and cash supposed for individuals dwelling north of the border.
Pyongyang has lengthy been infuriated by the propaganda campaigns, probably as a result of considerations that an inflow of outdoor data within the tightly managed society might pose a risk to the Kim regime.
North Korea not too long ago threatened to retaliate.
“Tit-for-tat action will be also taken against frequent scattering of leaflets and other rubbish by the ROK near border areas,” Kim Kang Il, a vice-minister of protection, mentioned in an announcement Sunday, utilizing the acronym for South Korea’s official identify.
“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,” Kim mentioned within the assertion carried by the official Korean Central News Agency.
Since the 1950-53 Korean War led to an armistice, the 2 Koreas stay technically at warfare and are separated by a closely fortified border.
‘Toilet paper, trash’
North Korea has despatched propaganda balloons throughout the border earlier than, in 2016 as an illustration, however their method is a bit totally different this time, Cheong Seong-chang of the Sejong Institute instructed AFP.
“Bags filled with toilet paper, trash and Chinese batteries were found,” he mentioned.
“Also from witness statements that there was a ‘distinctive smell’ from the bag, it is likely they sent feces, probably animal feces, as well,” he added.
“It’s a stern message to South Korea that like the South, North Korea can send propaganda as well, and they should immediately stop doing it,” Cheong mentioned, including the border can be “strongly controlled after this.”
North Korea on Monday tried to place a second spy satellite tv for pc into orbit, however the launch led to a mid-air explosion.
Seoul performed drills with fighter jets hours forward of the try in protest after Pyongyang knowledgeable Tokyo of the pending launch window earlier within the week.
North Korea’s Kim mentioned Seoul’s response was “recklessness,” in accordance with a KCNA report Wednesday.
Kim mentioned “the present situation requires further bolstering up the war deterrence in every way and steadily developing the DPRK’s armed forces into an entity of super-powerful and absolute strength,” the report mentioned.
Source: www.dailysabah.com