Local sources from South Korea: 한겨레, 남북경협뉴스.
UK coverage: The Telegraph.
North Korea has announced that it will suspend the practice of sending balloons filled with rubbish over the border to South Korea. However, the North has also stated that it will resume this activity if anti-North Korean leaflets are flown over from the South. South Korea has expressed its displeasure at the trash-filled balloons and has threatened to take ‘unendurable’ measures in response. These measures could include broadcasting propaganda through loudspeakers directed at North Korea. The South has not ruled out resuming the use of loudspeaker blasts, which were halted in 2018.
Foreign media outlets have expressed surprise at the recent revelation that North Korea possesses chemical weapons specifically designed for the assassination of Kim Jong-nam, the half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. According to reports, the chemical weapons in question are in the form of ‘slime balloons’ that contain a highly toxic substance. These balloons are said to be capable of releasing the toxic substance upon contact or when punctured. The existence of these chemical weapons was brought to light during the trial of two women who were accused of assassinating Kim Jong-nam at Kuala Lumpur International Airport in 2017. The women allegedly smeared the toxic substance on his face, resulting in his death. The revelation has raised concerns about North Korea’s capabilities and intentions regarding the use of chemical weapons. Experts believe that the possession of such weapons indicates the country’s willingness to resort to extreme measures for political purposes. The international community has condemned the use of chemical weapons, and this latest development further highlights the need for continued vigilance and efforts to prevent their proliferation.
North Korea announced that it will temporarily suspend the distribution of garbage balloons in South Korean areas, starting from the end of last month. Kim Kang-il, Deputy Minister of Defense of North Korea, stated, ‘We have distributed 15 tons of toilet paper waste using various devices, totaling over 3,500, near the Korean border and in the metropolitan area. We have provided enough experience to show how dirty and resource-consuming it is for the South Koreans to clean up the scattered toilet paper waste.’ He further added. He also mentioned that their actions are a thorough response, stating, ‘We will temporarily suspend the act of distributing toilet paper waste across the border.’ However, he argued that if the resumption of anti-republic propaganda distribution is detected, they will respond by concentrating on distributing one hundred times the amount of toilet paper waste and filth, as warned. Meanwhile, the Presidential Office stated on the 2nd that regarding North Korea’s distribution of ‘filthy balloons’ and GPS interference, ‘We have decided to take measures that North Korea cannot tolerate’ and added, ‘We will not exclude the issue of resuming loudspeaker broadcasts to North Korea.’
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