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South Korea
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North Korea flies more trash balloons after Seoul resumes propaganda broadcasts

  • South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff says the North Korean balloons were flying north of Seoul after crossing the border

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A balloon presumably sent by North Korea, is seen in a paddy field in Incheon, South Korea, on June 10. Photo: AP
Associated Press
North Korea launched more balloons likely carrying rubbish toward South Korea on Sunday, two days after the South restarted blaring anti-Pyongyang propaganda broadcasts across the border in retaliation for the North’s repeated balloon campaigns, Seoul officials said.

The Cold War-style psychological battle between the two Koreas is adding to already-high tensions on the Korean peninsula, with the rivals threatening stronger steps against each other.

South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said the North Korean balloons were flying north of Seoul, the South Korean capital, after crossing the border.

It said the South Korean public should be alert for falling objects and report to police and military authorities if they see any balloons fallen on the ground.

North Korea’s latest balloon-flying is the ninth of its kind since late May. North Korea has floated more than 2,000 balloons to drop waste paper, scraps of cloth, cigarette butts, waste batteries and even manure on South Korea, though they have so far caused no major damage in South Korea. North Korea has said the initial balloons were launched in response to South Korean activists sending political leaflets to the North via their own balloons.

Loudspeakers set up for propaganda broadcasts near the demilitarised zone separating the two Koreas in Paju, South Korea in 2018. South Korea said on Friday it has restarted anti-Pyongyang propaganda broadcasts across the border. Photo: AP
Loudspeakers set up for propaganda broadcasts near the demilitarised zone separating the two Koreas in Paju, South Korea in 2018. South Korea said on Friday it has restarted anti-Pyongyang propaganda broadcasts across the border. Photo: AP

North Korea views South Korean civilian leafleting activities as a major threat to its leadership as the country prohibits official access to foreign news for most of its 26 million people, experts say.

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