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South Korean Balloons Head North With ... Socks

Activists say it's about warm feet, not politics

By John Johnson,  Newser Staff

Posted Jan 28, 2012 9:13 AM CST

(Newser) – Another sign of just how bad things have gotten in North Korea: Activists in the South sent balloons skyward today carrying a hot black-market item: warm socks. Members of North Korea Peace tell AFP it's not about politics. "All we want is that people in the North wear warm socks over their frozen feet," says a spokeswoman.

"Warm socks are so rare and they can easily be traded for cash in the North. One pair of socks fetches about 22 pounds of corn, which is enough to sustain a person for a month." About 1,000 pairs went up over the border. On a more formal front, the North allowed in trucks from the South carrying food—even as it threatened "full-scale war" over Seoul's military exercises, notes the New York Times.

The balloons are on their way to the North.
The balloons are on their way to the North.   (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)
The balloons carrying socks and messages of support head toward North Korea.
The balloons carrying socks and messages of support head toward North Korea.   (Getty Images)
Members of the North Korean Peace Foundation prepare to release balloons carrying 1,000 warm socks from South Korea.
Members of the North Korean Peace Foundation prepare to release balloons carrying 1,000 warm socks from South Korea.   (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)
Members of the North Korean Peace Foundation prepare to release their balloons from the South.
Members of the North Korean Peace Foundation prepare to release their balloons from the South.   (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 54 comments
Bartmaeus
Jan 29, 2012 7:51 AM CST
Another house built on sand, slowly sinking into the dustbin of history. What made the West a great world power? The Chineser studied this question (the atheist Chinese, by the way), and their conclusion: Christianity was the cause of this greatness! But now the self-hating, self-pampering, fools who, despite all pontifications of tolerance and respect, spare no opportunity to ridicule and caricature Christianity and Christians, are aiding in the downfall of this great civilisation. But there will be a correction in a short while.
SBS
Jan 28, 2012 9:53 PM CST
Sending the socks is a great idea, but the picture looks like they are sending giant condoms. 
Bartmaeus
Jan 28, 2012 10:59 AM CST
The logical consequence of opting for a socialist "people's republic," established and micro-managed by militant atheists who demand the "people" deify the "Great Leader", who inevitably happens to emerge from an elite circle of belligerents. So much for socialist principles of humanitarianism and equality. But of course, as Dylan wrote: you gotta serve somebody.

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