South Korean news agency Yohhap reported on Sunday that North Korea sent 240 balloons with garbage towards its neighbor – South Korea.
However, only 10 balloons reached their destination. The “parcels” landed in the northern regions Gyeonggi Province surrounding Seoul. The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) reported that the balloons contained shreds of paper and plastic bottles. No hazardous substances were identified in them.
North Korea and the Failure of the Retaliatory Operation
Military experts from South Korea they estimate that low effectiveness of the action regime may be related to unsuitable weather conditions in which the balloons were released.
The wind was blowing at that time towards the north and north-eastwhich caused most of the balloons to return to DPRK territory instead of reaching their intended destination.
Analysts remind us that this is already 11th timewhen North Korea sends balloons filled with garbage to the South.
In July, several such balloons landed near the residence of the President of South Koreawhich caused consternation among the authorities in Seoul.
North Korea: Relations 'worst in decades'
Relations between North and South Korea are currently rated as the worst in decades. Both countries have been formally at war for over 70 years, as the armed conflict of 1950-1953 ended signing of the armisticenot a peace treaty.
In late December 2023, Kim Jong Un ordered the acceleration of preparations for a “war that may start at any time“. He also condemned the “persistent and uncontrolled crisis situation” caused, in his opinion, by Seoul and Washington during their joint military exercises in the region.
According to the South Korean news agency Yohhap, since May, Kim Jong-un's regime has sent over 3 thousand balloons filled with garbage. Earlier, South Korea tried to distribute propaganda leaflets in North Korea in the same way. The garbage is a kind of revenge for those actions.