Summary

North Korea launched hundreds of balloons filled with waste across the border into South Korea, sparking outrage. South Korea issued an emergency alert and deployed response teams to identify the contents. No immediate damage was reported, but over 260 balloons were detected. North Korea admitted to the act, citing 'freedom of expression' and a response to anti-Pyongyang leaflets sent by South Korean activists. Tensions escalate as North Korea's offensive tactics coincide with military buildup and fears of possible military action.

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For those who read...

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South Korea military officials announced Wednesday that North Korea launched strange objects across the border overnight. But it is not what you may be expecting — or what South Koreans were worried about from their nuclear-armed neighbor. Instead, North Korea’s ‘attack’ consisted of hundreds of balloons filled with waste, including everything from fertilizer to trash to old batteries to cigarette butts. North Korean officials call the balloons ‘gifts of sincerity,’ sparking outrage across South Korea.

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South Korea sent out an emergency disaster alert to its citizens, warning them to not touch any suspicious objects and to report any potential balloon sightings to local authorities. There are no immediate reports of damage caused by the balloons.

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Response teams were deployed along the border in order to identify exactly what was in the balloons. Both biological terrorism teams and bomb squads worked together on identifying the contents. South Korea’s defense ministry confirmed that no human waste was found in the balloons, despite the presence of animal feces and fertilizer.

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As of Wednesday afternoon, over 200 balloons have been detected, most of them landing on the ground. In a statement, the South Korean military called the act ‘base and dangerous.’ North Korea admitted to sending the balloons and vowed to send more, citing the need for ‘freedom of expression.’

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The balloons come after a warning from North Korea’s vice defense minister about possible retaliatory action after South Korean activists recently sent anti-Pyongyang leaflets over the border. The two countries have a history of sending propaganda material and waste across borders at one another. In the Cold War era, activists from both sides sent leaflets across the border — one of the most heavily guarded in the world.

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In addition, North Korea’s newest offensive strategy against their southern neighbor comes after North Korean leader Kim Jong Un urged his military scientists to overcome a recent failed satellite launch and continue to develop space-based reconnaissance activities he sees as crucial to overcoming the American and South Korean militaries. The standoff between the neighboring countries has grown more tense in recent months as some military analysts even fear North Korea is preparing to take military action.

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Thank you for listening to today’s Current 2 story!

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