Parasites, poop and propaganda: Trash balloons reveal hardships faced by North Koreans

Parasites were discovered in trash-laden balloons launched by North Korea into South Korea, Seoul's Ministry of Unification said Monday.

A balloon carrying a waste-filled bag is discovered in Songpa District, eastern Seoul, earlier this month. [YONHAP]

Parasites were discovered in trash-laden balloons launched by North Korea into South Korea, Seoul's Ministry of Unification said Monday.

From late May to early June, North Korea sent over 1,000 balloons carrying waste across the border in response to leaflet campaigns led by North Korean defector groups criticizing the Kim Jong-un regime.

The ministry unveiled such findings on Monday after examining 70 balloons carrying feces.

“Experts found numerous parasites such as roundworms, whipworms and threadworms in the soil contained in the waste,” the ministry said, adding that the soil-mediated parasites are believed to have originated from human feces.

However, the risk of soil pollution or infectious disease is small, the ministry said, as the feces-laden balloons carried only a minimal amount of soil, and the military promptly collected the balloons upon crossing the border.

Pieces of clothing items discovered within waste sent over the border by a balloon [MINISTRY OF UNIFICATION]

Many other items were identified among the waste.

There were pieces of clothing, such as neckties and denim jackets, previously provided by a South Korean company. These items appeared to have been cut with scissors or knives.

A ministry official said damaging items provided by the South and sending them back may have been intended to highlight the antagonism between the two Koreas and “to express hostility toward South's leafleting.”

The official said that most of the trash consisted of evenly cut wastepaper and plastic rather than ordinary household waste, suggesting that North Korean authorities may have been trying to conceal the harsh living conditions of North Koreans.

Labels and caps of bottles were also purposely removed, likely to prevent the disclosure of product information, the official said.

However, daily necessities, such as worn socks, gloves, masks and t-shirts, were also found, revealing the hardships faced by North Koreans.

Papers praising late leader Kim Jong-il and the North's ruling Workers’ Party were also found.

The ministry finds this extraordinary given the harsh punishments North Korea metes out to people who damage images of the country's leaders or materials on ruling party teachings.

“We are investigating if North Korean citizens took part in sending balloons,” said a Unification Ministry official, suggesting that the discovery may be linked to ordinary North Koreans' discontent with their leaders.

BY WOO JI-WON [woo.jiwon@joongang.co.kr]