Korean Balloon War – The Hindu

What’s happened

The current “balloon war” is not a new conflict, but an escalation of a long-standing propaganda tactic between North and South Korea. A chronology

• June 2024: South Korean activists belonging to the “Fighters for a Free North Korea” seem to have initiated the recent escalation. It all started when these activists sent about 10 balloons with leaflets criticizing the North Korean regime and USB sticks with South Korean media (K-pop, dramas) across the border. This was nothing new, but it was certainly the turning point.
• End of May 2024: North Korea responded by sending hundreds of balloons full of garbage and possibly even manure into South Korea. This was probably intended as a nuisance and a sign of disrespect. The first series of balloon attacks involved about 250 balloons. The second wave, launched within 15 days of the first, consisted of about 300 balloons, 80 of which landed in South Korea.
• Beginning of June 2024: Tensions continued to rise when North Korea launched another wave of garbage-filled balloons. South Korea responded by resuming loudspeaker broadcasts with news and information about the North Korean government, a tactic it has used in the past. This was the first time since 2018.
• Mid-June 2024: Kim Yo-jong, the influential sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, condemns the South’s actions and calls them “a prelude to a very dangerous situation.” South Korea sees this as an escalation of threats.

These balloons are large, clear cylinders filled with helium and carrying messages in the Korean language.

This balloon exchange comes against the backdrop of a larger problem: North Korea’s nuclear program and stalled diplomatic efforts to resolve it.

The balloon war itself is not particularly dangerous (aside from the environmental impact of the garbage), but it sheds light on the fragile relationship between the two Koreas and the potential for a more serious conflict.

This “balloon war” is part of a long history of psychological warfare between the two Koreas.

History: What’s wrong with Koreans?

The division of the Korean peninsula dates back to the end of World War II in 1945, when Korea was liberated from Japanese occupation. The peninsula was divided along the 38th parallel, with the Soviet Union occupying the north and the United States occupying the south. This division was intended to be temporary, but ideological differences led to the establishment of two separate governments: the communist Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea) and the capitalist Republic of Korea (South Korea).

In 1950, the Korean War broke out when North Korean troops invaded the South. The conflict lasted until 1953 and ended with an armistice but not a peace treaty, leaving the two Koreas formally still at war. Since then, the peninsula has been marked by periods of hostility and attempts at reconciliation, with tensions persisting due to ideological differences, military clashes, and North Korea’s nuclear ambitions.

Use of balloons in psychological warfare

The use of balloons for psychological warfare has its origins in the Korean War (1950–1953).

• Korean War: United Nations and South Korean forces dropped millions of leaflets over North Korean and Chinese troops using balloons. These leaflets contained messages calling for defection and spreading news about the progress of the war.
• Cold War: The United States and South Korea continued to use balloons to deliver anti-communist propaganda to North Korea. The balloons were loaded with leaflets, radios, and other items designed to influence North Korean civilians and military personnel.

How a psychological effect

These balloons could reach remote and heavily guarded areas that were otherwise inaccessible and spread propaganda deep inside enemy territory. Leaflets and broadcasts from the outside world could undermine the enemy’s morale and sow doubts among the population about his government and its propaganda.

“Intelligent Balloons”

A group in Seoul called the Joson Reform and Opening Committee has developed a new method of sending messages to North Korea. They have built high-tech balloons that they call “smart balloons.” These balloons can fly far into North Korea and drop leaflets or even play messages over loudspeakers. This is a completely new way of using balloons to influence North Korea. Let’s see how these balloons work and what kind of messages they carry.

In 2020, the South Korean government banned the balloon launches, saying it feared they would escalate tensions with the North. However, a court later overturned the ban, upholding freedom of expression. Some South Koreans oppose the balloon launches because they fear they will provoke North Korea and endanger local residents. This legal ambiguity, coupled with public fear of retaliation and North Korean threats, creates a controversial climate around the balloon campaigns.