In the latest round of psychological warfare between the two Koreas, North Korea has again sent hundreds of balloons carrying trash across the border into South Korea.
Balloons Spotted over Seoul and Gyeonggi Province
Kabul 24: South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff detected around 420 balloons launched by North Korea from Wednesday evening to Thursday morning
About 20 of the balloons have been discovered so far in Seoul and nearby Gyeonggi province
The balloons were filled with paper waste, plastic bottles and other trash but contained no hazardous materials
Authorities Warn Residents to Be Cautious
Seoul’s city government issued text alerts advising people to stay indoors and beware of falling objects
Residents were urged to report any sightings of fallen balloons to the police or military and avoid touching them
North Korea Claims Retaliation for Propaganda Leaflets
Since May, North Korea has flown thousands of trash-carrying balloons toward South Korea
North Korea claims this is in retaliation against South Korean activists who send anti-North Korean propaganda leaflets across the border
North Korea is extremely sensitive to outside criticism of its authoritarian regime and leader Kim Jong Un
Trash Balloon Lands on Presidential Compound
In July, trash carried by a North Korean balloon fell on the South Korean presidential compound in Seoul
This raised concerns about the vulnerability of key South Korean facilities, though officials said the balloon contained no dangerous material and caused no injuries
Tit-for-Tat Propaganda Campaigns Escalate Tensions
South Korea has reactivated loudspeakers along the border to blast propaganda messages and K-pop songs toward the North in response
These Cold War-style psychological tactics are adding to tensions fueled by North Korea’s nuclear ambitions and joint military exercises between South Korea and the U.S.
