Balloons contain parasites such as roundworms, whipworms, and threadworms believed to originate from human excrement.
North Korea has sent over 1000 trash-filled balloons to South Korea since the end of last month in retaliation for leaflet campaigns.
North Korea's use of trash-filled balloons as a form of retaliation draws criticism from both South Korean and international communities.
Seoul's unification ministry identified these clothes as items previously provided to North Korea by a South Korean company.
Torn pieces of clothing including neckties and blue jackets have been discovered among the debris.
In recent weeks, North Korea has engaged in a series of provocative actions against South Korea, including the launching of trash-filled balloons carrying parasites and human waste. According to reports from Yonhap News Agency and Bloomberg, over 1,000 balloons have been sent from North Korea since the end of last month in retaliation for South Korean activists' leaflet campaigns condemning the North Korean regime. The trash-filled balloons have been found to contain parasites such as roundworms, whipworms, and threadworms, which are believed to originate from human excrement. Torn pieces of clothing, including neckties and blue jackets, have also been discovered among the debris. Seoul's unification ministry has identified these clothes as items previously provided to North Korea by a South Korean company. The findings come as tensions between the two Koreas continue to escalate.
North Korea has long opposed South Korean propaganda campaigns, fearing that an influx of outside information could threaten the leadership of its regime. For years, North Korean defectors in South Korea and conservative activists have sent anti-Pyongyang leaflets to the North using balloons, aiming to encourage North Koreans to rise up against the Kim family regime. The use of trash-filled balloons as a form of retaliation is a new tactic employed by North Korea, which has drawn criticism from both South Korean and international communities.
The discovery of parasites in the balloons raises concerns about potential health risks for those coming into contact with the debris. It is unclear how the parasites were able to survive the journey across the border, but experts suggest that they may have been present in the soil used to fill the balloons. The presence of human waste in the balloons also highlights North Korea's disregard for international norms and its willingness to use unsanitary methods as a form of psychological warfare.
As tensions between North and South Korea continue to rise, it is important for both sides to exercise restraint and avoid further escalation. The use of trash-filled balloons as a form of retaliation is not only unproductive but also risks causing unnecessary harm to innocent people on both sides of the border. It is crucial that all parties involved prioritize dialogue and diplomacy over provocative actions.
Dozens of North Korean balloons contained parasites
Parasites found include roundworms, whipworms and threadworms
Accuracy
The number of balloons sent by North Korea is the same in both articles.
The location of the parasites is different in each article. In one article, they are found in the balloons and in another they are found in the soil contained within them.
North Korea is monitoring a change in wind direction on Monday that could allow them to send more trash-carrying balloons across the border into South Korea.
Accuracy
North Korea has sent over 1,000 balloons across the border since end of last month
