Seoul’s military reported on Sunday that North Korea has resumed its provocative act of launching trash-filled balloons across the border, with around 600 balloons detected containing various waste materials, including cigarette butts and plastic debris.
According to a statement from Seoul’s Joint Chiefs of Staff, the launches began around 8 pm (1100 GMT) on Saturday evening, with approximately 20 to 50 balloons observed per hour as of 10 am Sunday. The balloons have been landing in South Korea’s northern provinces, including the densely populated capital Seoul and the adjacent area of Gyeonggi.
This recent barrage of balloons follows a similar campaign earlier in the week, during which some 900 balloons were launched, containing items deemed by Seoul as “low-class” waste. Despite warnings from South Korea of potential countermeasures, Pyongyang has persisted in its actions, justifying them as retaliation for balloons carrying anti-regime propaganda sent into North Korea.
Seoul’s military is actively monitoring the situation, conducting surveillance and reconnaissance to track the balloons’ movements and collecting the fallen debris. They have urged the public to avoid contact with the waste balloons and report any sightings to the nearest military unit or police station to ensure public safety.
The recent escalation in tensions over the balloon launches highlights the ongoing animosity between North and South Korea, despite past efforts to improve relations. The distribution of leaflets and other propaganda materials has long been a source of contention between the two countries, often resulting in diplomatic friction and retaliatory measures from Pyongyang.
Although South Korea passed a law in 2020 criminalizing the sending of leaflets to North Korea, activists have continued their activities, prompting further backlash from Pyongyang. The recent resumption of balloon launches underscores the deep-rooted divisions and unresolved issues between the two Koreas, perpetuating a cycle of hostility and distrust.
