North Korea has again sent balloons carrying presumed trash into South Korea, according to Yonhap News Agency. This follows last week’s incident where nearly 1,000 similar balloons were sent across the border.
Seoul’s military advised the public not to touch the objects and to report them to military or police authorities, warning that the balloons might drift further south due to wind changes.
Last November, North Korea ended a five-year military pact with South Korea, aimed at reducing military tensions. This decision came amid heightened military activities on the Korean Peninsula involving the US, South Korea, and Japan. In February, North Korea’s parliament voted to end economic cooperation agreements with South Korea.
Seoul suspended the 2018 inter-Korean tension reduction pact after North Korea airdropped balloons filled with trash, drawing condemnation from the South. Pyongyang confirmed it sent 3,500 balloons from last Tuesday to Sunday, while Seoul reported detecting 1,000 balloons causing property damage.
According to North Korean Vice Defense Minister Kim Kang-il, the balloons carried 15 tons of debris. Kim stated that Pyongyang would stop the airdrops if South Korea ceases sending anti-Pyongyang leaflets into North Korea.