South Korean police arrested six American nationals on Friday for attempting to send plastic bottles filled with rice, Bibles, and cash to North Korea, violating national safety laws.
The incident occurred at 1:03 a.m. on Ganghwa Island, near the maritime border with North Korea, where the group was caught launching thousands of bottles into the sea. The suspects, aged 20s to 50s, were detained for questioning, with an interpreter provided due to their inability to speak Korean, according to the Ganghwa Police Station in Incheon.
Ganghwa Island, located northwest of Seoul and just 10 kilometers from North Korea’s border, has been a hub for activist groups sending rice, USB sticks with K-pop, and propaganda materials to the North. Last November, South Korea designated the area a danger zone to curb such activities, citing potential provocation of North Korea.
The arrests follow a history of tense cross-border exchanges, including North Korea’s trash-filled balloon launches last year in retaliation for South Korean propaganda balloons. South Korea responded with loudspeaker broadcasts, which were recently halted by President Lee Jae-myung, who took office this month and seeks a more conciliatory approach toward Pyongyang.
Police are investigating the Americans for violating the Framework Act on the Management of Disasters and Safety. The incident underscores ongoing tensions and the challenges of managing activist actions along the sensitive inter-Korean border.
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