North Korea Continues Balloon Launches Toward South Korea for Fifth Consecutive Day

On Sunday, North Korea sent another round of trash-filled balloons toward South Korea, marking the fifth straight day of such launches, according to the South’s military. The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) reported that North Korea resumed its balloon campaign at around 9 a.m., just hours after floating approximately 200 balloons late on Saturday, as per Yonhap news agency.

Prioritizing the safety of South Korean citizens, the military has pledged to respond “resolutely and calmly” in line with established protocols, the JCS noted. However, despite the ongoing provocations, South Korea has refrained from directly shooting down the balloons due to safety concerns.

In response to North Korea’s actions, South Korea has been broadcasting anti-North Korean propaganda via loudspeakers along the border since July 21. These broadcasts serve as a retaliatory measure, though South Korea has avoided direct military engagement with the balloons.

On Sunday, North Korea launched around 120 balloons over a three-hour period starting at 9 a.m. Approximately 40 bundles of these balloons landed in Seoul and northern Gyeonggi Province. Upon inspection, the contents of the balloons were identified as paper, plastic, and bottles. The South Korean military confirmed that no harmful substances were found.

Since late May, North Korea has launched thousands of balloons filled with trash as retaliation against anti-Pyongyang leaflets sent across the border by North Korean defectors and activists in South Korea. Sunday’s launch marked the 17th round of balloon launches since this campaign began.