Six United States nationals have been arrested by South Korean authorities for allegedly attempting to smuggle bottles containing rice and Bibles into North Korea, according to the official leading the investigation.
The individuals, aged between their 20s and 50s, were apprehended early Friday at 1:03 a.m. as they tried to launch thousands of plastic bottles into the sea from Ganghwa Island. These bottles were reportedly packed with rice, one-dollar bills, and religious materials.
“We have arrested and are questioning six American nationals in their 20s to 50s on suspicion of violating the Framework Act on the Management of Disasters and Safety,” the head of the investigation team at Ganghwa Police Station in Incheon told AFP.
He further stated, “The Americans could not speak Korean, so an interpreter was provided for them and we have since started the questioning.”
Ganghwa Island, located to the northwest of Seoul, lies just around 10 kilometres from North Korea’s maritime border, making it a frequent launch site for activist campaigns targeting the North. Groups often use the area to send bottles or balloons carrying rice, K-pop content, or South Korean dramas.
In November of last year, the South Korean government officially designated Ganghwa and other border areas as danger zones, due to concerns that such actions could provoke the North.
Previously, tensions had escalated into a propaganda battle between the two Koreas. North Korea had sent numerous trash-filled balloons across the border, claiming it was in retaliation for South Korean propaganda efforts. In return, the South resumed loudspeaker broadcasts featuring K-pop music and international news, prompting North Korea to emit eerie sounds along the frontier—disturbing residents in the region.
However, following the inauguration of President Lee Jae Myung earlier this month, South Korea has taken a more conciliatory stance. The administration suspended the broadcasts, and North Korea responded by also halting its cross-border noise transmissions.
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