North Korea has launched 600 balloons filled with trash across the border into South Korea, according to the South’s military on Sunday. South Korean personnel in hazmat suits have been seen collecting cigarette butts, cardboard, and plastic.
South Korea condemned the act as “irrational” and “low-class,” but noted that unlike recent ballistic missile launches, this trash campaign does not violate UN sanctions on North Korea. Seoul has warned of strong countermeasures unless the North ceases its balloon bombardment, stating that it violates the armistice agreement that ended the Korean War.
The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) urged the public to avoid the trash heaps, reassuring that “no hazardous substances have been found.” Since Tuesday, around 900 balloons have been sent south, with the latest wave arriving late Saturday. By 10 am Sunday (0100 GMT), about 600 balloons had been identified, landing primarily in northern provinces, including Seoul and Gyeonggi.
The JCS confirmed the balloons contained “waste such as cigarette butts, scrap paper, fabric pieces, and plastic.” The military is conducting surveillance, tracking the balloons through aerial reconnaissance, and collecting the debris to prioritize public safety. The public has been advised to report any fallen waste balloons to the nearest military unit or police station.
Possible South Korean response
South Korea’s National Security Council is expected to meet on Sunday to discuss resuming loudspeaker propaganda campaigns along the border, a move that previously angered Pyongyang. In the past, South Korea has used loudspeakers to broadcast anti-Kim propaganda into the North, which has retaliated with similar tactics.
Activists in the South have also launched balloons over the border, filled with leaflets, cash, rice, or USB drives with K-dramas. Pyongyang has described its recent balloon launches as a response to these propaganda-laden balloons sent into North Korea.
“If Seoul resumes anti-North broadcasts, it could lead to limited armed conflict along border areas,” warned Cheong Seong-chang of the Sejong Institute.
In 2018, both Koreas agreed to cease hostile acts, including the distribution of leaflets. However, South Korea’s 2020 law criminalizing the sending of leaflets was struck down last year as a violation of free speech.
Kim Yo Jong, Kim Jong Un’s sister, mocked South Korea’s complaints, calling the balloons an exercise of freedom of expression.
The trash campaign comes amid warnings that Kim Jong Un is testing weapons before sending them to Russia for use in Ukraine. South Korea’s defense minister reported that Pyongyang has shipped about 10,000 containers of arms to Moscow in exchange for Russian satellite technology.
