6 Americans Detained Over DIY Rice-And-USB Sticks To North Korea Stunt
Six Americans were detained in South Korea on Friday for attempting to send 1,600 plastic bottles filled with rice, miniature Bibles, $1 bills, and USB sticks towards North Korea by sea, according to police.
The Americans were stopped on Gwanghwa Island before they could release the bottles into the sea, with the intention that they would float towards North Korean shores. They are currently under investigation for allegedly violating laws related to safety and disasters.
The police officers involved in the case declined to reveal personal details of the Americans due to privacy rules. Additionally, the contents of the USB sticks found in their possession have not been disclosed.
Activists have long used methods like floating plastic bottles or flying balloons across the border to send anti-North Korea propaganda leaflets and media content. However, such practices have been banned from 2021-2023 due to concerns about escalating tensions with North Korea.
In response to previous balloon campaigns, North Korea has reacted strongly, including launching their own balloons that deposited trash on South Korean sites. In 2023, South Korea’s Constitutional Court overturned a controversial law criminalizing the sending of leaflets and items to North Korea, citing it as a restriction on free speech.
The new liberal government in South Korea, led by President Lee Jae Myung, is aiming to enforce safety-related laws to prevent further tensions with North Korea and ensure the safety of South Korean residents.
Despite efforts to restart talks with North Korea and promote peace on the Korean Peninsula, it remains uncertain how North Korea will respond given their previous threats to sever relations with South Korea. Official talks between the Koreas have been at a standstill since 2019.
