Just when long-time North Korea watchers thought they had seen it all, Pyongyang managed to surprise them.

The world has seemingly become inured to North Korea’s steadily escalating nuclear and missile threats and extensive human-rights atrocities. Launches of new, more deadly ICBMs no longer merit coverage in U.S. media. But Pyongyang has come up with a new way to gain attention and show its scorn for South Korea – sending trash and manure via balloons. In other words, flying feces.

On May 29, some South Koreans were awakened to emergency text messages of “air raid preliminary warning” over unidentified objects traveling over the demilitarized zone. The South Korean military subsequently said it detected 260 North Korean balloons that fell across the country, including in Seoul and the southeasternmost province. The balloons carried plastic bottles, batteries, shoe parts … and excrement.

Pyongyang’s latest antics are even more petulant and disdainful than usual, as underscored by the brazen statement by Kim Yo-jong – the North Korean leader’s powerful sister – that South Koreans should regard the filth-laden balloons as “sincere presents to the goblins of........

© The National Interest