South Korea announced today, Sunday, that North Korea sent around 600 balloons filled with waste to South Korea overnight, in the latest move by Pyongyang to provoke its neighbor. The Joint Chiefs of Staff in South Korea stated that the balloons carrying trash such as cigarette butts, fabric, and paper and plastic waste were found throughout the capital from 8 PM to 10 AM. They added that the military is monitoring the launch point and conducting aerial reconnaissance to track and collect the balloons, which are hanging beneath large bags of garbage.
On Wednesday, North Korea sent hundreds of balloons carrying waste and debris across the heavily fortified border, referring to it as "sincere gifts." Seoul responded with anger, calling the move despicable and dangerous. Emergency alerts were issued in North Gyeongsang and Gangwon provinces, as well as some parts of Seoul on Sunday, urging people not to touch the balloons and to inform the police.
According to Yonhap News Agency citing the presidential office, the Permanent Committee of the National Security Council in South Korea will meet this afternoon to discuss whether to resume the use of loudspeakers broadcasting towards North Korea in response to the waste balloons. South Korea halted its cross-border propaganda broadcasts in 2018 after a rare summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
