SEOUL: South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said on Monday that the country may consider a military response to any casualties resulting from North Korea’s launch of so-called “trash balloons” across the shared border, the state media Yonhap News Agency reported.
Lee Sung-joon, a spokesperson for the Joint Chiefs of Staff, criticized North Korea’s actions as “an internationally shameful and petty act” designed to incite conflict and create anxiety among citizens.
While he noted that there had been “no issues” warranting an immediate military response, he emphasized that any future incidents causing direct harm to South Koreans could trigger a stern military reaction.
“North Korea’s gray zone provocations are continuing and are causing inconvenience and anxiety to the public,” Lee stated, as reported by Yonhap News Agency. He said that should the North’s balloon launches be deemed a serious threat, the military would take decisive action.
Since May 28, North Korea has launched approximately 5,500 balloons on 22 separate occasions, with around 120 of these launches occurring over the weekend.
Although many of the balloons contain household waste such as paper and plastic bottles, some have been reported to carry potentially hazardous materials, including manure. Fires in metropolitan areas have been attributed to “heat timers” attached to the balloons.
On Monday, flight operations at Incheon International Airport, South Korea’s main airport in Seoul, were temporarily suspended twice due to concerns related to the balloons. South Korean military officials have warned against shooting down the balloons, citing the risk of dispersing hazardous materials and posing greater threats to public safety.
Seoul estimates that North Korea has invested around 550 million won (approximately $411,600) in producing these balloons, reflecting the regime’s unusual tactics in its ongoing psychological warfare against the South. The South Korean military maintains that, so far, no hazardous materials have been identified among the balloon contents.
The tensions come as civic groups in South Korea have also engaged in similar balloon launches into North Korean territory, often carrying food, medical supplies, and anti-regime leaflets. North Korea has vocally protested these actions and has threatened retaliation.
