North Korea’s Trash Balloons Contain Parasites From Human Feces: South Korea

Parasites believed to be from human excrement have been detected in the bags of trash carried by North Korean balloons sent toward South Korea in recent weeks, the South Korean government said on June 24. More than 1,600 trash-filled balloons have been sent by North Korea toward its southern neighbor since May, and South Korean residents have been advised not to touch any objects attached to the balloons. South Korea’s Unification Ministry said that it found “numerous parasites, such as roundworms, whipworms, and threadworms” in the soil contained in the trash after examining 70 balloons, South Korea’s Yonhap News Agency reported. The bags of trash carried by the balloons also contained clothes donated to North Korea by a South Korean company, which appeared to have been cut into pieces, according to the ministry....