North Korea Releases About 40 'Trash Balloons'... Most Fall in the Seoul Metropolitan Area

Starting from May, 32 Instances of Dirty Water Balloon Spraying

Amid heavy snowfall, about 40 'trash balloons' launched by North Korea were identified.

The Joint Chiefs of Staff announced that North Korea floated approximately 40 balloons carrying waste and trash toward South Korea from the night of the 28th to the early morning of the 29th, and about 30 falling objects were confirmed in the Seoul metropolitan area. A JCS official stated, "The confirmed contents were leaflets and other materials aimed at South Korea, and analysis showed no substances harmful to safety."

A North Korean trash balloon sent toward South Korea is flying over Jongno-gu, Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News.

North Korea's floating of trash balloons toward South Korea occurred for the first time in ten days since the 18th. Earlier, on the 26th, Kim Yo-jong, Deputy Director of the Workers' Party, said in a statement, "Various political propaganda leaflets and items sent by South Korean trash have fallen again," and "We strongly condemn the dirty acts of the South Korean elements who committed provocations polluting our territory." Although this differed from the usual warnings of 'retaliation,' the trash balloons were launched just two days later.

Meanwhile, North Korea has released waste balloons thirty-two times from the end of May this year until now.