1 million propaganda balloons sent by North Korea floating over the border

North Korea has launched around one million propaganda leaflets by balloon towards its southern neighbour amid increased tensions over Pyongyang’s recent nuclear test, it has been claimed. Seoul’s defence ministry said the North had been sending balloons loaded with leaflets on a near-daily basis, with some reaching the capital, as well as border areas. The helium balloons reportedly have timers that cause them to explode and scatter the leaflets. The tactic has been used occasionally by South Korean activists - triggering angry responses from the North - since the two Koreas agreed to stop psychological warfare in 2004.

It was identified that the leaflets were scattered from the North side yesterday afternoon and early this morning, and our military is closely watching the movements of the North Korean military.

Jeon Ha-kyu, South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff spokesperson

The North’s unverified claim of a successful hydrogen bomb test on 6 January has sparked off a new Cold War-style stand-off between the bitter rivals. South Korea resumed broadcasting anti-Pyongyang propaganda and K-pop songs from border loudspeakers while the North restarted border propaganda operations. Foreign governments and experts remain sceptical about North Korea’s H-bomb claim, although the test is likely to have moved the country closer to having a fully functional nuclear arsenal.

Asia-Pacific Korea propaganda