Group of Six U.S. Citizens Held for Attempting Sea Delivery of Rice and Bibles to North Korea, as per Police Reports
In the heart of Seoul, six Yanks were nabbed last Friday for a daring plot - attempting to ship 1,600 plastic bottles jampacked with rice, miniature Bibles, dollar bills, and USB sticks, destined for the North Korean shores by sea. Coastguard on Gwanghwa Island caught wind of their plan and apprehended the Americans before they could toss the bottles into the sea.
Two Gwanghwa cops shared the details, preferring to remain anonymous as they weren't authorized to discuss the matter publicly. They explained that the Americans are under investigation for allegedly violating safety and disaster management laws. Although the officers kept quiet on the individuals' identities, citing privacy regulations, they clarified they haven't managed to ascertain the contents of the USB sticks yet.
The U.S. Embassy in South Korea didn't immediately comment on the incident.
For quite some time, activists have endeavored to propel plastic bottles or balloons across the border, loaded with anti-North Korea propaganda leaflets and USB thumb drives sporting South Korean dramas and K-pop tunes. However, state authorities banned such ventures from 2021 to 2023 due to fears they could fuel tensions with North Korea[1].
In the past, North Korea responded to such balloon campaigns with fiery rhetoric and other displays of frustration, even launching their own balloons littering trash on various South Korean sites, including the presidential compound[1][2].
But era changes bring new winds. In 2023, South Korea's Constitutional Court abolished a contentious law that punished citizens for dispatching leaflets and other items to North Korea, stating it unconstitutionally restricted free speech[1].
The current liberal administration, led by President Lee Jae Myung, assumed office in June 2025. Lee's administration is steering towards diplomatic engagement with North Korea, aiming to foster peace on the Korean Peninsula. In this vein, the new government has suspended frontline anti-Pyongyang propaganda loudspeaker broadcasts to lower military tensions[1].
Recently, the government has also been ramping up efforts to quash civilian campaigns sending leaflets or balloons laden with propaganda materials across the border. This rhetoric is a concern for safety in border areas[1][2][3]. Hence, even though the law no longer explicitly forbids sending propaganda materials to North Korea, the South Korean administration actively discourages such activities and may take legal action to maintain peace and security.
Consequently, while it's permissible to send propaganda materials northwards, civilians risk government intervention and detainment in the pursuit of border security and peace endeavors[1][3]. This recent shift towards engagement and tension reduction, while balancing national security concerns, is a testament to South Korea's evolving approach to North Korea relations[1][3].
Notes:1. Recent Changes in South Korea's Approach to North Korea2. The Controversy Over Balloon Campaigns3. The Constitutional Court Ruling on Propaganda
- The recent shift in South Korea's approach to North Korea, which includes discouraging civilian activities like sending propaganda materials, can be categorized as general news and politics.
- The South Korean government's active discouragement of citizens sending propaganda materials to North Korea, despite the law no longer explicitly forbidding it, is a political move aimed at maintaining peace and security, thereby falling under the category of general news and politics.
