The rivalry between North and South Korea has been one that seems to be everlasting ever since the two countries split from each other way back in 1945. The two governments have long feuded over which government is the legitimate one over the entire Korean Peninsula, with both governments claiming control of the entire peninsula.
The initial disagreements following their separation eventually led to the beginning of the Korean War in 1950, which lasted three years before it ended with the signing of the Korean Armistice Agreement. Despite an agreement being reached and the war ending, the tension and rivalry between the governments continued over the next few decades and is still ongoing to this day – when North Korea has been caught sending balloons filled with trash into South Korea. A peculiar move from the North Korean government for sure, but one that is not all too surprising.
South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff have spoken out in condemnation of North Korea’s actions stating, “All responsibility arising from the North Korean balloons lies entirely with North Korea, and we sternly warn North Korea to immediately stop its inhumane and low-level actions.” The younger sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, Kim Yo Jong, said that the actions are “freedom of expression” and that they are not a violation of international law as South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff have alleged.
North Korean state media have stated that the balloons were sent in response to South Korean activists sending propaganda flyers, food, medicine, radios and USBs containing South Korean television content – all of which are strictly prohibited by North Korean law. Even the South Korean government has acted against these activists, with their parliament banning the transport of these materials through balloons, bottles, and drones back in 2020. However, these items continue to make their way across the North Korean border – also known as the DMZ [or de-militarized zone].
The leader of North Korea, Kim Jong-un, has yet to speak about this incident himself.
