Seoul-Based Group Crafts High-Tech Balloons for North Korean Leaflet Campaign

In a strategic move echoing the tension-filled history between North and South Korea, a covert Seoul-based group has emerged as a key player in the ongoing balloon warfare, deploying sophisticated “smart balloons” equipped with leaflets and electronic speakers across the border.

Dubbed “The Committee for Reform and Opening up of Joson,” the group boasts around 30 core members and operates under a veil of secrecy, financing their operations through personal funds and donations. Their arsenal includes meticulously crafted balloons, built using 3D printers and components procured online, some featuring GPS-tracking capabilities.

These cutting-edge balloons, costing up to $1,000 each, have been engineered to navigate winds favorable for reaching North Korean territory, with some even venturing as far as China. Deployed mostly under the cover of darkness, the aim is to penetrate deeper into North Korea, including its capital, Pyongyang.

The payloads carried by these balloons are carefully curated, ranging from traditional leaflets to more technologically advanced devices. Most commonly, the balloons scatter pre-programmed leaflets critical of the North Korean regime. However, recent innovations include attaching speakers to parachutes, broadcasting messages and songs denouncing Kim Jong Un’s leadership.

Despite the group’s technological advancements, success is not guaranteed. While altimeter-linked valves ensure a more stable flight, the balloons remain at the mercy of weather conditions, with an estimated success rate of 50-60% in surpassing the border.

However, not everyone in South Korea supports these efforts. Some residents view the balloon launches as confrontational and risky, sparking clashes between activists and locals. Additionally, the South Korean government, which once engaged in similar leaflet campaigns, instituted a ban in 2020 citing national security concerns. Although a court overturned the ban last September, tensions persist both within South Korea and with its northern neighbor.

Nevertheless, the group remains undeterred, viewing Pyongyang’s vehement opposition to their activities as a testament to their effectiveness. Despite fears of reprisals from North Korean agents or crackdowns by South Korean authorities, the members press on, driven by their mission to promote change within North Korea through unconventional means.