JCS: "North Korea Releases Filth Balloons Again... Moving in Northern Gyeonggi Area" (Comprehensive)

On the 21st, North Korea once again released filth balloons toward the South. This is the first time in three days since the 18th that North Korea has released filth balloons toward the South.

The Joint Chiefs of Staff announced at around 9:15 a.m. that day, "North Korea has launched filth balloons toward the South, and the filth balloons are moving toward the northern Gyeonggi region." They also urged caution regarding the falling payloads and requested that if any fallen balloons are found, people should not touch them but report to the nearest military base or police station.

After North Korea intermittently but continuously released filth balloons, the Joint Chiefs resumed loudspeaker operations in the frontline areas starting from the 18th. On this day as well, the military plans to broadcast relay-style using fixed loudspeakers deployed on the western, central, and eastern fronts for 16 hours from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Balloon Carrying North Korean Waste Found in Jeongseon
(Jeongseon=Yonhap News) On the morning of the 10th, an object presumed to be a North Korean waste balloon was found fallen in Yeoryang-myeon, Jeongseon-gun, Gangwon Province. 2024.6.10 [Provided by reader. Resale and DB prohibited]
taetae@yna.co.kr
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On the fourth day of broadcasting toward the North, as North Korea again released filth balloons, it is reported that plans to expand loudspeaker operations toward the North are also being considered. Methods under discussion include extending the broadcast time or fully operating all loudspeakers in the frontline areas simultaneously.

Broadcasting via loudspeakers toward the North is a psychological warfare tool aimed at unsettling North Korean soldiers and residents. It is known that recent broadcasts include news such as the defection of North Korean diplomats.

The military's policy is to suppress North Korea's provocations by responding with loudspeaker broadcasts, which are considered the most detested by North Korea. However, the possibility that North Korea may respond with high-intensity provocations cannot be ruled out.

In 2015, when the Park Geun-hye administration resumed loudspeaker broadcasts toward the North in response to North Korea's landmine provocations, North Korea carried out artillery provocations on the western front.