On the South Korean island of Yeonpyeong-do, just a stones-throw away from the contested Northern Limit Line (NLL) that separates the seas of the two Koreas, North Korean trash is slowly building up.
During an NK News visit to the island this week, over a dozen pieces of North Korean rubbish were found strewn out over a north-facing beach at the top of the island.
Bright and colorful candy wrappers, empty children’s milk drinks, and even old sachets of North Korean-made MSG could be found on the beach, illustrating just how close the island is to DPRK territory.
“I think the North Korean trash probably came from towns and villages on the coast rather than fishing boats because it seems to be mostly children’s candy or cooking ingredients like MSG,” said Andray Abrahamian, a professor at George Mason University Korea.
But it was not the only material NK News saw on the beach.
“About 80% of the trash was Chinese,” Abrahamian continued. “I have to guess it mostly came from the dozens of (Chinese) fishing boats there in South Korean waters.”
Left: North Korean MSG | Right: “Sweet Snack” wrapper | Picture: NK News
Most of the rubbish had not been bleached by the sun and was in relatively good condition, suggesting it recently arrived on the island.
North Korean factories and companies linked to the trash included Songdowon General Foodstuff Factory, Pyongyang Cornstarch Factory, Rakwon Food Factory, and 5.1 General Health Drinks Factory.
And the possible source of the DPRK trash could be the North Korean city of Haeju, located just 38km from Yeonpyeong-do, which has a population of roughly 250,000 people.
Left: More children’s milk | Right: Mint-flavor candy | Picture: NK News
The modern and innovatively-shaped packaging designs reflect changes that have been closely associated with Kim Jong Un’s rule over North Korea.
One example of North Korea propaganda could also be found among the debris from the DPRK.
It’s not clear when it was produced or sent, but one observer said it looked to be less than six-months-old due to the quality of the print and vivid colors.
Left: Photo from the beach the trash had washed up | Right: Chinese rubbish was also present, representing about 80% of what could be seen | Picture: NK News
Despite featuring several beaches, islanders on Yeonpyeong-do are forbidden from swimming due to the strong military presence.
As a result, it’s unclear who uses the publicly-accessible beaches there.
Edited by Oliver Hotham
On the South Korean island of Yeonpyeong-do, just a stones-throw away from the contested Northern Limit Line (NLL) that separates the seas of the two Koreas, North Korean trash is slowly building up.
During an NK News visit to the island this week, over a dozen pieces of North Korean rubbish were found strewn out over a north-facing beach at the top of the island.
