Trash Balloons from North Korea Carry Parasites from Human Waste: Reported by South Korea
Numerous parasites have been discovered in the balloons upon inspection, as reported by South Korea’s Unification Ministry.
Parasites believed to be from human excrement have been identified in the trash bags carried by North Korean balloons heading towards South Korea in recent weeks, announced the South Korean government on June 24.
The trash bags carried by the balloons also contained clothing donated to North Korea by a South Korean company, which seemed to have been cut into pieces, according to the ministry.
“It appears that North Korea damaged and sent these previously supplied items to show extreme hostility towards the leaflet campaigns and to emphasize the adversarial stance against South Korea,” mentioned a ministry official to the local news agency.
“I sternly warn Seoul to cease immediately the perilous act of escalating the confrontation crisis and discipline itself,” Ms. Kim was quoted as saying by North Korea’s state-run Korean Central News Agency on June 10.
The broadcasts from South Korea feature international news and insights about democratic and capitalist society combined with popular K-pop music. The sound is believed to travel more than 12 miles into North Korea.
Despite South Korea halting the broadcasts under a pact adopted by the leaders of both nations in 2018, tensions have risen due to North Korea’s advancement of nuclear weapons development.
North Korea has conducted over 100 weapons trials in recent years, involving various missile systems, including long-range missiles capable of reaching the United States and its allies in Asia.
The United States has persistently advocated for “direct talks” with North Korea without preconditions for a diplomatic resolution. North Korea has rejected these overtures.
Andrew Thornebrooke and Reuters contributed to this report.