South Korea announced that it would respond with “decisive military action” if the trash-carrying balloons launched by North Korea resulted in any fatalities.
Since May, North Korea has dispatched over 5,500 balloons laden with trash across the border, disrupting flights, igniting fires, and striking government buildings in the South. Pyongyang claims this tactic counters the South’s balloon-propagated propaganda.
“If the North’s trash-filled balloons pose a serious safety threat or cross a certain threshold, Seoul will take decisive military actions,” stated Lee Sung-joon of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He specified that fatalities from these incidents would trigger such measures, though he did not elaborate on what the actions might involve.
Most balloons from the North carry bags of waste paper, which are not health hazards. However, newly attached devices on some balloons have sparked recent fires, raising concerns.
“Our military is closely monitoring North Korean military activities and tracking balloon launch points in real-time,” Lee added.
This warning followed a disruption at Incheon Airport caused by a recent balloon launch.
After North Korea’s initial balloon launch in May, Seoul halted a military agreement with Pyongyang and resumed broadcasting propaganda from border loudspeakers.
Relations between North and South Korea have deteriorated significantly, with the North recently positioning 250 ballistic missile launchers along its southern border.
Earlier this month, North Korea showcased its uranium enrichment facility for the first time, with leader Kim Jong Un emphasizing the need for more centrifuges to enhance his nuclear arsenal. “The North could conduct its seventh nuclear test anytime at Kim Jong Un’s command, potentially before or after the US presidential election in November,” stated Shin Won-sik, the president’s national security adviser, in a Yonhap News TV interview.
