Current:Home > MyNorth Korean leader's sister hints at resuming flying trash balloons toward South Korea -Aspire Money Growth
North Korean leader's sister hints at resuming flying trash balloons toward South Korea
View
Date:2025-04-13 17:26:47
The powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un vowed Sunday to respond to what she called a fresh South Korean civilian leafleting campaign, signaling North Korea would soon resume flying trash-carrying balloons across the border.
Since late May, North Korea has floated numerous balloons carrying waste paper, scraps of cloth, cigarette butts and even manure toward South Korea on a series of late-night launch events, saying they were a tit-for-tat action against South Korean activists scattering political leaflets via their own balloons. No hazardous materials have been found. South Korea responded by suspending a 2018 tension-reduction deal with North Korea and resumed live-fire drills at border areas.
In a statement carried by state media, Kim Yo Jong said that "dirty leaflets and things of (the South Korean) scum" were found again in border and other areas in North Korea on Sunday morning.
"Despite the repeated warnings of (North Korea), the (South Korean) scum are not stopping this crude and dirty play," she said.
"We have fully introduced our countermeasure in such situation. The (South Korean) clans will be tired from suffering a bitter embarrassment and must be ready for paying a very high price for their dirty play," Kim Yo Jong said.
North Korea last sent rubbish-carrying balloons toward South Korea in late July. It wasn't immediately known if, and from which activists' group in South Korea, balloons were sent to North Korea recently. For years, groups led by North Korean defectors have floated huge balloons carrying anti-Pyongyang leaflets, USB sticks containing K-pop songs and South Korean drama, and U.S. dollar bills toward North Korea.
Experts say North Korea views such balloons campaigns as a grave provocation that can threaten its leadership because it bans official access to foreign news for most of its 26 million people.
On June 9, South Korea redeployed gigantic loudspeakers along the border for the first time in six years, and resumed anti-North Korean propaganda broadcasts.
South Korean officials say they don't restrict activists from flying leaflets to North Korea, in line with a 2023 constitutional court ruling that struck down a contentious law criminalizing such leafleting, calling it a violation of free speech.
Kim Yo Jong's statement came a day after North Korea's Defense Ministry threatened to bolster its nuclear capability and make the U.S. and South Korea pay "an unimaginably harsh price" as it slammed its rivals' new defense guidelines that it says reveal an intention to invade the North.
- In:
- Kim Jong Un
- South Korea
- North Korea
veryGood! (22512)
Related
- Former longtime South Carolina congressman John Spratt dies at 82
- Trump's 'stop
- Meet the volunteers risking their lives to deliver Christmas gifts to children in Haiti
- The Super Bowl could end in a 'three
- Chuck Scarborough signs off: Hoda Kotb, Al Roker tribute legendary New York anchor
- Charges tied to China weigh on GM in Q4, but profit and revenue top expectations
- Senate begins final push to expand Social Security benefits for millions of people
- Trump issues order to ban transgender troops from serving openly in the military
- Finally, good retirement news! Southwest pilots' plan is a bright spot, experts say
- Stamford Road collision sends motorcyclist flying; driver arrested
Ranking
- The Grammy nominee you need to hear: Esperanza Spalding
- At site of suspected mass killings, Syrians recall horrors, hope for answers
- Arkansas State Police probe death of woman found after officer
- Jamie Foxx gets stitches after a glass is thrown at him during dinner in Beverly Hills
- Current, future North Carolina governor’s challenge of power
- Tarte Shape Tape Concealer Sells Once Every 4 Seconds: Get 50% Off Before It's Gone
- Mets have visions of grandeur, and a dynasty, with Juan Soto as major catalyst
- Former longtime South Carolina congressman John Spratt dies at 82
Recommendation
Selena Gomez engaged to Benny Blanco after 1 year together: 'Forever begins now'
Grammy nominee Teddy Swims on love, growth and embracing change
All That You Wanted to Know About She’s All That
Former Syrian official arrested in California who oversaw prison charged with torture
Paige Bueckers vs. Hannah Hidalgo highlights women's basketball games to watch
Newly elected West Virginia lawmaker arrested and accused of making terroristic threats
Nearly 400 USAID contract employees laid off in wake of Trump's 'stop work' order
How to watch the 'Blue Bloods' Season 14 finale: Final episode premiere date, cast