GYEONGGI PROVINCE — North Korea resumed its provocative campaign of launching balloons filled with trash into South Korean territory this Saturday, according to the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS). This marks the first such incident in over two weeks, with the balloons headed toward the northern regions of Gyeonggi Province, which encircles Seoul.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the detection of these balloon launches is part of an ongoing pattern, with over 3,600 such incidents recorded since May 28. This action is seen as a retaliatory measure against South Korean activists and defectors who have flown balloons carrying anti-Pyongyang leaflets northward. The latest balloons were detected despite prevailing winds blowing north and northeast, suggesting a deliberate trajectory toward South Korean territory.
The South Korean military has issued warnings to the public to avoid contact with these balloons and to report any findings to military or police authorities immediately, citing potential dangers from falling objects. The last recorded launch prior to this was on July 24.
In retaliation, South Korea has ramped up its border propaganda broadcasts, a daily initiative that started in mid-July aimed at countering North Korea's actions. These broadcasts and the leaflet campaigns have been sharply criticized by Pyongyang, which views the influx of external information as a threat to the stability of Kim Jong-un’s regime.