South Korean activists airlift Choco Pies to North Korea

[jeliza]

A year after North Korea cracked down on Choco Pies—marshmallow-filled chocolate cakes originating in South Korea—activists in South Korea sent thousands of the beloved confections over the border via helium balloons, AFP reports. South Korean activists regularly launch balloons, usually carrying anti-Pyongyang leaflets, across the border.

North Koreans working in South Korean factories in a joint industrial zone received the confections as perks, but their rarity in the North boosted their value and they soon became a sought after commodity. By 2010, according to South Korean media, more than 2 million were traded on the black market every month. Last May, authorities in Pyongyang ordered the factories to stop handing out Choco Pies.

"Embarrassed by the growing popularity of Choco Pie, North Korea banned it as a symbol of capitalism," said Choo Sun-Hee, one of the organisers of Wednesday's balloon launch.

"We will continue to send Choco Pie by balloons because it is still one of the most popular foodstuffs, especially among hungry North Koreans," Choo told AFP.

Pyongyang has repeatedly pressed Seoul to stop the activists and threatened to shell the launch sites.

(more at source)

Source: The Guardian via AFP;  Photo is by Ahn Young-joon, Associated Press, at Time.

Comments

[polesandskis.livejournal.com]

This is truly a cause worth fighting for.

[fantaesticbaby.livejournal.com]

i love choco pies i wish someone would airlift me some

[torontok.livejournal.com]

black market choco pies.
reminds me of how i have to get my reese cups smuggled into the country

[petecarl.livejournal.com]

Where do you live that you have to smuggle reese cups into your country>

[torontok.livejournal.com]

Pakistan.Reese cups arent sold widely and those that are in foreigner stores are obscenely expensive ($40 for a pack of three) so my uncle who works in airline sneaks them over for me by hiding them in the plane fridge.you c ant judt bring them in either.my aunt had hers confiscated by airport security (who I strongly suspect ate them)
Alcohol is also banned but thats another story

Also love your icon.the best Nana tbj

[chibi-rei.livejournal.com]

Bb I would send you boxes of them if I could.

[applepieprinces.livejournal.com]

:( WHAT. WHY? do you want me to send you some?

[adlyeith.livejournal.com]

Cannot tell if serious...

[torontok.livejournal.com]

See above

[modernelegance.livejournal.com]

I love this!

[tewwteww.livejournal.com]

How nice of them, it's very touching

[marishane.livejournal.com]

Choco pie sure can satiate..but would it be too much if instead of choco pies they send something healthier? (wishful thinking)

[0ddie13.livejournal.com]

Nice gesture but choco pies...

I smuggled kinder eggs into the US for years without knowing it was illegal, never got caught though =/

[yakuniku-8.livejournal.com]

eh? why is it illegal?

[shineebambi.livejournal.com]

The toy is APEERENTLY a choking hazzard

[yakuniku-8.livejournal.com]

lol

[torontok.livejournal.com]

All those evil Canadian and Mexicans trying to asphyxiate innocent american chidlren!11

[shineebambi.livejournal.com]

I KNEW IT THOSE DAN PESKY CANADIA S THATS IT no more Mr nice America THE TALONS ARE OUT

[digitalqueen.livejournal.com]

but they have pink guns for their kids!

[shineebambi.livejournal.com]

Well duh what else would you give a child THE MORE GUNS IN AMERICA THE SAD WE ALL SHALL BE

[tree-star123.livejournal.com]

so sad that they are illegal here -__-

[sra-interesante.livejournal.com]

such a nice gesture
but banning candies and cookies ??
you want people to hate you