South Korean police blocks families' balloon launch near North Korean border
Local authorities stopped a group trying to send anti-North Korean messages via balloons across the border. The incident adds to growing issues between two countries‚ as both sides continue exchanging propaganda materials
In a border-town incident near the DMZ today‚ South Korean police blocked several families from launching anti-North Korean leaflet-filled balloons. Choi Sung-ryong‚ who leads the abducteesʼ families group said: “Our stuff was taken and car stopped“ (his group got early-morning notice about the action)
The stand-off happened in Paju — a one-hour drive from Seoul where Kim Kyung-il‚ the cityʼs mayor made things clear: “We will use law enforcement if you dont follow orders“. This comes as North Korea already sent lots of trash-filled balloons southward in 2024; they say its payback for getting K-pop videos and critical messages from the South
Local folks dont like these balloon launches at all. Park Kyung-ho‚ a 53-year old farmer who works nearby said its about staying safe‚ while Kim Geun-in‚ whos 72 expressed that people of all political views oppose such actions. She thinks “the North will stop if we stop first“
The whole thing is extra-tricky because last year courts said its ok to send leaflets (they called it free speech) but local governments still try to stop it. Right now both sides use loud-speakers for propaganda — which really bugs people living in border areas. The countries are still technically fighting since the 50s war never got a real peace deal; just a pause-agreement
