Care packages for North Korea
Huge balloons rock back and forth in the wind.
They are carrying care packages for North Koreans, put together by human rights activists from 10 countries.
They say the 1,000 pairs of socks will help starving families in the impoverished communist nation.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) 40-YEAR-OLD CANADIAN MARK WHITTY SAYING:
"You know, one pair of socks is gonna equal to a month's supply of corn for North Koreans. It's really gonna make a difference at this time of the year. People are hungry and people are starving. We're really making a difference, so we want world to know that and world to participate help us to send aid to North Korea."
North Korea's hunger plight is compounded by its dysfunctional food distribution system, rising commodities prices and international sanctions because of its nuclear missile program.
Pyongyang's request for food aid has been largely ignored by the international community, prompting activists to take on the cause.
(SOUNDBITE) (Korean) SPOKESPERSON OF NON PROFIT ORGANIZATION "KOREAN PENINSULA INTERNATIONAL PEACE ORGANIZATION" AND NORTH KOREAN DEFECTOR, LEE JOO-SUNG SAYING:
"I hope many people abroad come to South Korea and internationally participate in our activity of sending socks to North Korea. I also hope the socks we're sending today will safely land in the North and become a big help to North Koreans there."
Relations between North and South Korea remain tense; there is no peace treaty between the two nations, who have technically been at war since the 1950s.
Jessica Gray, Reuters
They are carrying care packages for North Koreans, put together by human rights activists from 10 countries.
They say the 1,000 pairs of socks will help starving families in the impoverished communist nation.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) 40-YEAR-OLD CANADIAN MARK WHITTY SAYING:
"You know, one pair of socks is gonna equal to a month's supply of corn for North Koreans. It's really gonna make a difference at this time of the year. People are hungry and people are starving. We're really making a difference, so we want world to know that and world to participate help us to send aid to North Korea."
North Korea's hunger plight is compounded by its dysfunctional food distribution system, rising commodities prices and international sanctions because of its nuclear missile program.
Pyongyang's request for food aid has been largely ignored by the international community, prompting activists to take on the cause.
(SOUNDBITE) (Korean) SPOKESPERSON OF NON PROFIT ORGANIZATION "KOREAN PENINSULA INTERNATIONAL PEACE ORGANIZATION" AND NORTH KOREAN DEFECTOR, LEE JOO-SUNG SAYING:
"I hope many people abroad come to South Korea and internationally participate in our activity of sending socks to North Korea. I also hope the socks we're sending today will safely land in the North and become a big help to North Koreans there."
Relations between North and South Korea remain tense; there is no peace treaty between the two nations, who have technically been at war since the 1950s.
Jessica Gray, Reuters