• Six Americans detained in South Korea for sending items to North Korea.
• The group attempted to float 1,600 plastic bottles filled with rice, cash, and Bibles.
• Authorities cite violations of safety management laws amid rising tensions.

Six U.S. citizens were detained in South Korea on Friday for attempting to send 1,600 plastic bottles filled with rice, US dollar bills, and Bibles to North Korea by sea. This incident occurred near the restricted area of Gwanghwa Island, approximately 50 kilometers from Seoul, where military patrols are active, as reported by South China Morning Post and TRT Global.

The Americans attempted to release the bottles into the water so that they could float towards North Korean shores. Local police stated they are investigating the detainees for alleged violations of the law on management of safety and disasters, which has become stricter since a recent increase in tensions on the peninsula, according to Los Angeles Times and Al Jazeera.

Activists have long engaged in sending items to North Korea in hopes of delivering humanitarian aid or anti-government messages, a practice which has drawn the ire of Pyongyang. Reports indicate that the detained individuals were acting in a similar manner to previous activists who have faced legal actions for similar endeavors, as noted by Reuters and HuffPost.

The South Korean government, led by President Lee Jae-myung since June, is looking to control such civilian campaigns to enhance diplomatic relations with North Korea. This includes halting anti-Pyongyang broadcasts and enforcing safety-related laws. Nonetheless, it is uncertain how North Korea will react to these recent gestures of diplomacy following their declaration last year to sever ties with South Korea, according to TRT Global and South China Morning Post.