SEOUL, South Korea: North Korea has intensified its propaganda campaign against South Korea by launching hundreds of trash-filled balloons across the border.
On September 4 and 5, Pyongyang released around 420 balloons containing paper and plastic waste into South Korean territory, according to South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS). At least 20 of these balloons landed in northern Gyeonggi province and Seoul. Though the contents were not harmful, the actions symbolize the escalating tensions.
This marks the thirteenth round of such provocations since May, with North Korea claiming these launches are retaliatory measures against South Korean activists who send anti-Pyongyang leaflets. Over 3,800 trash-filled balloons have been sent by the North so far, adding to the deteriorating relations between the two Koreas.
In response, South Korea has halted a key military agreement aimed at reducing border tensions and has restarted propaganda broadcasts. On September 4, South Korea and the US discussed joint measures against potential North Korean provocations amid growing concerns over its nuclear and missile developments.
