In a strong statement against South Korean activists, Kim Yo Jong, the influential sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, expressed anger over the sending of balloons carrying propaganda over the border. The official Korean Central News Agency reported that Kim Yo Jong referred to the leaflets as "dirty" and warned that the North might resume sending trash-filled balloons to the South.

The ongoing exchange of balloons between the two Koreas has escalated tensions in recent weeks. South Korean activists have been launching propaganda leaflets towards the North, while North Korea has been retaliating by sending trash-filled balloons southward. This tit-for-tat campaign has strained relations between the two nations, with no signs of abating.

The practice of sending balloons is heavily regulated in South Korea, with activists led by North Korean defectors often taking the initiative. South Korea sees this as an exercise of free speech, whereas North Korea considers it a serious matter, given their restriction on foreign news access for its citizens.

Kim Yo Jong's warning came as no surprise, as she criticized the "crude and dirty play" of the South Korean activists. She issued a stern message, stating that the South Korean "ROK scum" should be prepared to pay a high price for their actions.

The tensions on the Korean Peninsula have been further inflamed in recent months, with Pyongyang conducting numerous weapons tests and cultivating closer ties with Russia. This has led to South Korea suspending a tension-reducing military deal and setting up gigantic loudspeakers along the border to broadcast anti-North Korean propaganda in response to the North's trash balloons.

As the exchange of balloons continues, both sides remain on high alert. The situation is a clear reflection of the strained relations between the two Koreas, which are currently experiencing one of their lowest points in years.

It is yet to be seen how South Korea will respond to Kim Yo Jong's threats, but the possibility of more trash-filled balloons being sent to the South looms over the region. The international community watches cautiously as the tension escalates and hopes for a peaceful resolution in the Korean Peninsula.