The recent “balloon war” between North and South Korea marks an intensification of longstanding psychological warfare tactics. Initiated by South Korean activists in May 2024, who launched balloons carrying critical leaflets and South Korean media into the North, the conflict escalated when North Korea retaliated with hundreds of balloons filled with trash and possibly manure. This exchange, coupled with South Korea’s resumption of propaganda loudspeaker broadcasts, reflects deep-seated tensions amid stalled diplomatic efforts and North Korea’s nuclear program concerns.