North Korea Releases Filth Balloons for Three Consecutive Days... Seventh Time in a Month

Seventh Dispersion Since the 28th of Last Month

North Korea has released filth balloons for three consecutive days.

The Joint Chiefs of Staff announced in a message distributed to the Ministry of National Defense press corps at around 9:13 p.m. on the 26th, "North Korea is once again releasing objects presumed to be filth balloons aimed at South Korea," adding, "Currently, the wind direction is northwest, and the balloons are moving southeast from the northern Gyeonggi region." A Joint Chiefs official urged, "Please be cautious of falling cargo, and if you find any fallen balloons, do not touch them and report to the nearest military unit or police."

North Korea resumed releasing filth balloons on the night of the 24th, three days after Kim Yo-jong, the vice department director of the Workers' Party of Korea, issued a warning. Earlier, the Free North Korea Movement Alliance claimed to have released 20 large balloons carrying leaflets, USB drives, and one-dollar bills on the 20th. The next day, Vice Director Kim Yo-jong warned of provocations, saying, "Since they clearly did what we told them not to do again, it is natural that there will be unnecessary trouble."

At that time, it was estimated that North Korea released about 350 filth balloons, with around 100 identified in the northern Gyeonggi and Seoul metropolitan areas. North Korea also released about 250 filth balloons the previous night, with approximately 100 falling in our region.

This year, North Korea began releasing filth balloons aimed at South Korea on the 28th of last month. Counting this incident, it is the seventh time in a month.