June 27, (THEWILL) – South Korean authorities have arrested six American nationals for attempting to send plastic bottles filled with rice, one-dollar bills, and Bibles to North Korea.
The suspects, reportedly aged between their 20s and 50s, were detained in the early hours of Friday while trying to launch the bottles into the sea off Ganghwa Island, located northwest of Seoul.
The head of the police investigation team at Ganghwa Police Station in Incheon confirmed the arrests.
“We have arrested and are currently questioning six American nationals on suspicion of violating the Framework Act on the Management of Disasters and Safety,” the officer said.
He added: “They could not speak Korean, so an interpreter has been provided as the investigation proceeds.”
Ganghwa Island, one of the closest South Korean territories to North Korea, lies just 10 kilometers (six miles) from the inter-Korean maritime border.
The area has long served as a launch site for anti-North Korea activists and non-profit groups attempting to send messages, supplies, and media across the border.
Activists typically use plastic bottles or balloons to send rice, Bibles, and USB drives loaded with K-pop music, South Korean dramas, and other cultural content, hoping to reach North Korean citizens with information from the outside world.
However, since November, the South Korean government has designated Ganghwa Island and other border areas as danger zones due to the potential for escalating tensions with the North. Authorities have warned that such activities could be perceived as provocative by Pyongyang.
Last year, North and South Korea were locked in a heated propaganda war. North Korea launched thousands of trash-filled balloons across the border in retaliation for anti-regime leaflets sent by South Korean activists.
In response, Seoul resumed loudspeaker broadcasts along the border, playing K-pop songs and international news, while North Korea countered by transmitting strange and disturbing noises that became a serious nuisance for residents near the border.
South Korea’s new president, Lee Jae Myung, who assumed office earlier this month, has promised a more conciliatory approach toward North Korea.
As part of this policy shift, the South has halted its loudspeaker broadcasts—a move that was quickly mirrored by the North, which also ceased its psychological noise campaign.
As of press time, South Korean authorities have not confirmed whether the six Americans will face formal charges or deportation.
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