Look! Up in the sky! It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s trash from North Korea!
The two Koreas are taking trash-talking each other to whole new levels.
South Korea has reportedly found over 260 garbage-filled balloons flown over and dumped on its land by neighbouring North Korea. The balloons contain, among other things, cigarette butts, plastic water bottles, used paper and old shoes. One report says South Korean authorities have even found a balloon containing animal excrement. Talk about a stink bomb! 💩
South Korea has warned its residents not to touch the balloons or the waste that they’re spreading.
This isn’t the first time balloons have been used in the ongoing strife between the neighbours. Both sides have been known to send propaganda leaflets to each other using balloons. But, in 2021, South Korea outlawed the use of balloons to send leaflets, Bible verses or money to North Korea, saying it was just provoking their neighbour (no, duh) and creating trash on their side when balloons didn’t make it over the border.
South Korea has also banned a viral official song that praises North Korean leader Kim Jong Un as a “friendly father” and “great leader.” They argue that this is part of the “psychological warfare against South Korea.” After listening to it, we can’t help but agree. No songwriting hook should be that bad.
Given the context of this story, a better song reference would be the German 80s classic 99 Red Balloons, in which balloons lead to a nuclear war in Cold War Europe. The song is ultimately an anti-war anthem, warning against a city turned to dust by escalating tensions. Let’s hope North Korea takes a listen to it between obligatory rounds of “Friendly Father” on the turntable
