North Korea's Waste Balloons Disclose Presence of Human Feces Parasites in Seoul
Report from Seoul suggests that North Korean balloons carried parasites from human waste. Analysis of approximately 70 recovered balloons revealed soil containing roundworms, whipworms, and hookworms. The Unification Ministry in South Korea attributes this to the use of human feces as fertilizer instead of proper soil treatment.
There's no danger of soil contamination or the spread of infectious diseases, as the soil transported by the balloons is minimal.
The Ministry also notes that the waste in these balloons highlights the poor economic conditions in North Korea. Consisting of worn-out children's and other clothes that have fallen apart, the trash reinforces the struggle faced by citizens there.
In the past few weeks, North Korea has launched over a thousand balloons loaded with waste across the border. Among the refuse were discarded cigarette butts and used toilet paper. North Korea is said to have responded to balloons from South Korean activists filled with anti-Kim Jong Un propaganda and monetary aid for the impoverished North.
The North Korean balloons also contained tampered clothing from a South Korean aid organization. The Ministry explains that the clothes, which were meant for relief efforts, were deliberately damaged with knife marks to express North Korea's fierce hostility towards the leaflet campaigns and to emphasize their hostile stance towards South Korea.
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- Despite the controversy surrounding North Korea's garbage balloon launches, Seoul's health authorities assure the public that the parasites discovered in the soil are not harmful due to the minimal amount of soil carried by the balloons.
- In response to South Korea's reconnaissance balloons filled with anti-Kim Jong Un propaganda and monetary aid, North Korea retaliated by launching a barrage of garbage balloons containing tampered clothing from a South Korean aid organization, showcasing their hostility towards such acts.
- The Unification Ministry in South Korea further highlighted the significance of North Korea's waste balloons, stating that the garbage, including used toilet paper and cigarette butts, is a stark reminder of the nation's economic struggles and poor sanitary conditions, which can lead to an increased presence of parasites like roundworms, whipworms, and hookworms in their soil.
