SEOUL: North Korea has once again launched balloons across the inter-Korean border, likely carrying trash and debris, according to the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) late Saturday.
While recent anti-DPRK leaflet launches by activists have not been reported, the South Korean military has continued its loudspeaker broadcasts since last month.
The JCS stated, “North Korea is sending presumed anti-South Korea trash balloons. With current winds from the south and southwest, there is a possibility that the balloons could drift towards the northern Gyeonggi area if wind directions change.”
Gyeonggi Province, Seoul, and Incheon City have issued public safety notices regarding falling debris and have urged citizens to report any balloons to the military or police.
This latest launch marks the twelfth instance of North Korea sending trash balloons into South Korea since May. The last such occurrence was on July 24.
The balloon launch follows the South Korean military’s recent assistance to a North Korean defector who crossed into South Korean territory via the Han River estuary west of Seoul. South Korean media speculates that the defection might be linked to the ROK loudspeaker operations criticizing the DPRK regime and promoting defection.
Earlier on Saturday, North Korean state media reiterated leader Kim Jong Un’s commitment to relocate flood victims to Pyongyang without foreign aid.
The report also accused the South Korean government and media of exaggerating the flood damage near the North Korea-China border.
Last week, South Korea’s Red Cross and the Russian government offered flood relief support to North Korea.
