South Korea’s military has reported that North Korea has resumed its activity of launching balloons, likely filled with trash, towards the South. This peculiar tactic adds to the current psychological warfare being conducted between the two neighboring countries amidst escalating tensions. The South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff stated on Saturday that the balloons could be carried by winds to areas north of the South Korean capital, Seoul. Authorities in Seoul City Hall and the Gyeonggi provincial government have issued text alerts advising citizens to be cautious of objects falling from the sky and to notify the military or police if they spot any of these balloons.
As of now, there have been no reports of injuries or damage to property caused by these balloons. In recent weeks, North Korea has sent over 2,000 balloons carrying items such as waste paper, cloth scraps, and cigarette butts towards the South. This retaliatory action is believed to be in response to South Korean civilian activists launching anti-Pyongyang propaganda leaflets across the border.
One North Korean balloon, which reached the South Korean presidential compound last month, raised concerns about the vulnerability of important South Korean facilities. Fortunately, the balloon only contained harmless materials, and no individuals were harmed, according to South Korea’s presidential security service.
In response to North Korea’s balloon campaign, South Korea has activated loudspeakers at the front-lines to broadcast propaganda messages and K-pop songs. These actions from both sides resemble a Cold War-era standoff, with tensions escalating as they each threaten to take stronger measures and warn of severe consequences.
The animosity between the two Koreas has reached a peak in recent years due to North Korea’s increasing nuclear ambitions and South Korea’s heightened military cooperation with the United States and Japan in response to the threats posed by the North.
