South Korean activists say they have flown propaganda-carrying balloons across the border in to North Korea, the latest provocation in an escalation of tensions between the two neighbours.
The North has expressed its anger about the balloons, and the South has attempted to stop the activists.
Since a 2018 thaw, the long-standing rivals had been making efforts to improve ties and maintain dialogue.
But the relationship appeared to have deteriorated rapidly in the past week.
The North on Friday blew up the Inter Korean Liaison Office, on its side of the border, which was set up two years ago to ensure regular dialogue between the two countries.
Wednesday marks the anniversary of the start of the Korean War. Analysts believe Pyongyang is intentionally ratcheting up the tension to increase its bargaining power and force new talks.
What is happening at the border?
Balloon campaigns have been going on for years – they usually carry leaflets, USB sticks or DVDs with criticism of the Pyongyang regime, as well as South Korean news reports or even Korean dramas.
All of this is aimed at breaking the North’s control on domestic information with the hope that people might eventually topple the regime from within.
But South’s government has always been uneasy about the balloons, arguing this results in nothing but counterproductive tensions.
Overnight, despite warnings from both the North and South, activists in the South said they had sent some balloons.
“North Koreans are deprived of human rights and enslaved by a modern dictator, do they not have a right to know the truth?,” the group behind the launch said.
“Leaflets are not poison, nor do the balloons carry bombs.”
At least one of the balloons, however, ended up caught in a tree south of the border.
The South Korean government on Tuesday reiterated its condemnation of the balloons, saying they should be “immediately halted to improve inter-Korean relations and promote peace on the Korean peninsula”.
What is North Korea’s position?
Pyongyang has in the past been described the flights as “an intolerable insult” and those sending them – often defectors from the North – as “human scum”.
It has said it is preparing its own counter-propaganda material to be sent south. According to state media there are about 12 million leaflets ready to convince citizens in the South of the glory of Pyongyang.
North Korea has also begun to move speakers back to its side of the border.
These speakers had been used to blare propaganda messages south. These were removed as part of the Panmunjom Declaration in 2018. when both sides agreed to dismantle their speakers and stop other forms of cross-border propaganda.