If Damaged, Death Penalty Applies... 'Idolization Document' Found in North Korea's Filth Balloon

Government Releases Analysis Results of Over 70 Garbage Balloons
Improvised 'Dispersal Trash' Made from Paper and Scrap Cloth
Many Items Revealing Severe Living Hardships Detected

Numerous items suggesting severe economic hardship were found in the filth balloons dispersed by North Korea. Among the trash, 'idolization documents' punishable by death under North Korean criminal law for defacement drew particular attention.

The Ministry of Unification disclosed on the 24th the analysis results of about 70 North Korean filth balloons collected from the 4th to the 11th. The most notable were the 'idolization documents.' Documents with covers labeled "Great Leader Kim Jong-il Taewonsu's Instructions" and others inscribed with "Highly Esteemed as General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea," presumed to be linked to Chairman Kim Jong-un's activities, were discovered.

A document promoting idolization was found in the filth balloons dispersed by North Korea earlier this month. Acts of damaging documents related to the Supreme Leader's instructions are considered serious crimes punishable by the death penalty under North Korean criminal law.
[Photo by Ministry of Unification]

According to Article 64 of North Korean criminal law, defacing the leader's instructional documents is a serious crime punishable by death. However, it is possible that North Korean authorities were unaware that such instructional documents were included in the filth while producing the balloons.

The government also viewed that North Korea hastily prepared so-called 'dispersal trash' rather than indiscriminately stuffing general waste. This is because waste paper of certain sizes, vinyl, and scrap cloth were found. It appears they intended to prevent exposure of living conditions. In the case of PET bottles, labels and caps were all removed to avoid revealing product information.

Nevertheless, several pieces of trash indicating the dire economic situation of North Korean residents were identified. Examples include socks repeatedly mended and worn, gloves made by patching fabric, and masks. Severely worn children's clothing such as baby pants with holes and children's socks with exposed toes were also found.

Many old clothes indicating the poor economic situation were identified in the filth balloons North Korea released earlier this month.
[Photo by Ministry of Unification]

Counterfeit goods unauthorizedly using overseas famous brands or animation characters were also found. It is widely known that North Korea extensively plagiarizes characters like Mickey Mouse and Winnie the Pooh from the U.S. Walt Disney Company. This time, multiple copies of Mickey Mouse, Pooh, Hello Kitty, Adidas, and others were confirmed. 'Skinny jeans,' classified as anti-socialist prohibited items, were also identified.

Among the filth, items supported by aid to North Korea were also discovered. Brand logos of companies that have been providing clothing to North Korea since the Kim Dae-jung (DJ) administration in 2000 were identified among fabric scraps. Some neckties and denim jackets were severely damaged with scissors or knives, which the government explained appeared to be a blatant expression of resentment or hostility toward Korean products.

Counterfeit products unauthorizedly using overseas famous brands or animation characters were found in the filth balloons dispersed by North Korea earlier this month.
[Photo provided by the Ministry of Unification]

Concerns about 'infectious diseases' were raised as North Korea even included feces in the filth balloons, but analysis showed no harmful factors.

Many parasites such as roundworms, whipworms, and hookworms were found in the soil included in the filth. The identification of human DNA in this soil suggests that these parasites likely originated from human feces. Such soil-transmitted parasites are caused by using feces as fertilizer instead of chemical fertilizers or by unsanitary living environments and are mainly identified in underdeveloped health and environmental countries.

However, the government judged that there were no significant harmful factors because the dispersed soil itself was in small quantities and the military authorities promptly collected and managed it. A Ministry of Unification official stated, "Recently, through Vice Director Kim Yo-jong's statement, the resumption of filth dispersal was announced, but North Korea should immediately stop this low-level and bizarre filth dispersal that even North Korean residents would be ashamed of," adding, "We should not waste administrative power on things that should not be done and should focus on improving people's livelihoods."