North's Trash Balloon Threat... 4-Star General Kim Byung-joo Warns "Precision Strike Risks Localized War"

"GOP Line Neomgi Jeon Yokyeokhaeya Pihae Eopseo"

Kim Byung-joo, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, strongly criticized the claim that if North Korea releases additional filth balloons, the origin point of the filth balloons should be struck, saying, "To strike the origin point, artillery and fighter jets would have to attack 10 to 15 km behind North Korea's Military Demarcation Line, which would inevitably lead to a localized war."

Kim, a former four-star general, said on the 16th on SBS Radio's 'Kim Tae-hyun's Political Show' that regarding National Defense Committee Chairman Sung Il-jong's mention of the 'policy to strike the origin point of filth balloons,' "It only seems like an intention to create tension between the South and North and escalate to a localized war," adding, "I am worried because someone so ignorant of military science has been appointed as the chairman of the National Defense Committee."

He explained, "Responses should follow the principle of proportionality or be enough to break the enemy's will," and "Since filth balloons are a psychological warfare tool, the response should also be psychological warfare, but striking the origin point is like hitting someone with a club just because they cursed once." He continued, "How could someone who should know better as the chairman of the National Defense Committee make such remarks?" and added, "The chairman's statements are perceived as being based on reports from the Ministry of National Defense, so they must always be cautious."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Earlier, Chairman Sung sparked controversy by mentioning the possibility of striking the origin point of filth balloons. In a media interview on the 14th, he stated that if citizens are harmed by North Korea's filth balloons, it would be immediately considered an armed provocation and that a policy to strike the origin point had been established. He said, "We have already identified 13 locations in Hwanghae Province as the origin points related to North Korea's filth balloon releases."

However, Lee Sung-jun, spokesperson for the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said at a regular briefing the day before, "The military has plans and options to respond to various situations, but it is inappropriate to disclose them in advance."

In response, Representative Kim said, "The military's stance that if North Korea provokes, it will strike the origin point is a theoretical position," adding, "I don't think this applies to filth balloons." He further explained, "The condition under which filth balloons could be struck at the origin point is if there is clear evidence that North Korea attached biochemical or weapons of mass destruction to the balloons."

As a realistic alternative, he suggested intercepting filth balloons at the GOP (General Outpost) line. Kim explained, "If filth balloons cross the GOP, they enter our civilian areas, so shooting them down could cause damage," and added, "Therefore, I have proposed intercepting filth balloons at our anti-air defense positions along the GOP line to bring them down."

He pointed out, "When I proposed intercepting at the GOP, members of the People Power Party and some conservatives criticized me, saying that the materials would fall there and cause damage," and said, "Now they are talking about striking the origin point, which is absurd." He also added, "If they fall inside the GOP, that is, in the Demilitarized Zone, there is no damage," and explained, "If intercepted by anti-aircraft guns, the balloons self-destruct in the air, so the ammunition does not fall into North Korea."