Six US Citizens Arrested in South Korea for Attempted Bible, Rice Delivery to North Korea
South Korean authorities have arrested six American citizens for attempting to send plastic bottles filled with Bibles, rice, and one-dollar bills across the sea into North Korea.
The arrest took place around 1:03 a.m. on Friday near Ganghwa Island, one of South Korea’s closest territories to the North, with only about 10 kilometres (six miles) separating the island from the maritime border.
“We have arrested and are questioning six American nationals in their 20s to 50s on suspicion of violating the Framework Act on the Management of Disasters and Safety,” said the head of the investigation team at Ganghwa Police Station in Incheon.
The Americans, who reportedly could not speak Korean, were provided with interpreters before police began formal questioning.
Controversial Bottles: Rice, Bibles, and Cash
According to local reports, the individuals were in possession of thousands of plastic bottles containing rice, US currency, and Christian literature. These bottles were allegedly intended to float into North Korea as part of a mission believed to be backed by faith-based or anti-North Korean activist groups.
Ganghwa Island has historically served as a launch point for such acts, where non-profit groups often send bottles or balloons loaded with USB drives, leaflets, and cultural content like K-pop or Korean dramas to the North.
Security Risks and Political Tensions
South Korean authorities previously designated Ganghwa and similar border areas as “danger zones” in November due to increased tensions and the risk of provoking Pyongyang.
In 2024, the region saw a sharp rise in tit-for-tat psychological operations. South Korean activists sent propaganda balloons northward, prompting North Korea to retaliate with trash-filled balloons. Seoul responded by resuming loudspeaker broadcasts featuring news and K-pop music, which led Pyongyang to counter with eerie and disruptive audio transmissions.
New Government, New Approach
President Lee Jae Myung, who assumed office earlier this month, has adopted a more reconciliatory approach towards North Korea. Shortly after his inauguration, the South halted all loudspeaker broadcasts—a move Pyongyang reciprocated the very next day by ceasing its disturbing frontier noise campaign.
It remains unclear if the six Americans acted independently or as part of a coordinated campaign. Investigations are ongoing.
