SEOUL, South Korea: North Korea resumed sending balloons filled with trash across the border into South Korea, with approximately 600 balloons identified by Seoul’s military as of Sunday morning.
Each hour, between 20 to 50 balloons were observed moving through the air, landing in South Korea’s northern provinces, including Seoul and Gyeonggi.
Seoul’s Joint Chiefs of Staff condemned North Korea’s actions, labeling them as “low-class” and warning of strong countermeasures against such “irrational” provocations. Since the campaign began on Tuesday, around 900 balloons have been launched, containing waste such as cigarette butts, scrap paper, fabric pieces, and plastic.
In response, South Korea’s military is conducting surveillance and reconnaissance, tracking the balloons and collecting fallen debris to prioritize public safety. Residents have been urged to avoid contact with the balloons and report sightings to authorities.
North Korea defended its actions, stating that the balloons were retaliation for similar actions from South Korean activists. Pyongyang has long been infuriated by balloons carrying anti-regime leaflets and other items sent by South Korean activists, prompting tensions between the two countries.
Despite past agreements to cease hostile acts, including the distribution of leaflets, tensions persist. South Korea’s attempts to legislate against such actions have faced challenges, with the Constitutional Court striking down a law criminalizing the sending of leaflets to the North in 2020.
Kim Jong Un’s sister, Kim Yo Jong, defended North Korea’s actions, citing freedom of expression. The ongoing exchange of provocations underscores the fragile state of inter-Korean relations and the challenges in achieving lasting peace on the peninsula.
