SEOUL — North Korea has launched balloons carrying trash into South Korean territory for the second consecutive day, escalating tensions between the two countries, according to Seoul's military. The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) reported late Tuesday that an unspecified number of balloons were released from northern Gyeonggi Province, drifting southeastwards across the border.
According to Yonhap News Agency, this marks the sixth such incident since May 28, with over 2,000 balloons estimated to have been sent by North Korea. Just a day prior, around 350 trash-laden balloons were launched, with approximately 100 landing in Seoul and northern parts of Gyeonggi Province. Authorities have urged the public not to handle the fallen balloons and to report any sightings to military or police officials. Analysis of the retrieved balloons indicated that they contained scrap paper and waste, but no hazardous materials were found.
The recent balloon launches appear to be in retaliation for anti-Pyongyang leaflets sent over the border by North Korean defectors and conservative activists in South Korea. These leaflets, which aim to incite dissent against the North Korean regime, have been a longstanding point of contention. Kim Yo-jong, the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, hinted last Friday at an escalation in balloon launches in response to the leaflet campaigns.
In a show of defiance, South Korea resumed anti-Pyongyang broadcasts across the border using loudspeakers on June 9, the first such action in six years. However, the broadcasts were halted the following day, signaling a cautious approach by Seoul to avoid further aggravating the situation. Seoul’s military has stated it is prepared to restart loudspeaker broadcasts depending on North Korea's actions, highlighting the fragile state of inter-Korean relations amid these ongoing provocations.