Huge balloons rock back and forth in the wind.<br/> They are carrying care packages for North Koreans, put together by human rights activists from 10 countries.<br/> They say the 1,000 pairs of socks will help starving families in the impoverished communist nation.<br/> (SOUNDBITE) (English) 40-YEAR-OLD CANADIAN MARK WHITTY SAYING:<br/> "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."<br/> 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.<br/> Pyongyang's request for food aid has been largely ignored by the international community, prompting activists to take on the cause.<br/> (SOUNDBITE) (Korean) SPOKESPERSON OF NON PROFIT ORGANIZATION "KOREAN PENINSULA INTERNATIONAL PEACE ORGANIZATION" AND NORTH KOREAN DEFECTOR, LEE JOO-SUNG SAYING:<br/> "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."<br/> 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.<br/> Jessica Gray, Reuters
