North Korea Releases 240 Trash Balloons... Only About 10 Drift South, Majority Likely Fall in North Korea

North and South Korean Media Accused of Fabricating Flood Damage Reports

North Korea released the 11th batch of anti-South Korea trash balloons from the 10th to the 11th. This came shortly after Kim Jong-un, Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of North Korea, condemned them as "South Korean trash facing our border." However, only a very small number of the trash balloons crossed south of the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). Due to the southerly winds blowing over the weekend, it is estimated that most of the balloons failed to cross the DMZ and fell back into North Korea.

The Joint Chiefs of Staff announced via a text message to the press corps on the morning of the 11th, stating, "About 240 trash balloons from the North were identified, and around 10 landed in the northern Gyeonggi region." It is highly likely that the approximately 230 remaining trash balloons fell within North Korean territory.

Suspected debris from a North Korean propaganda balloon fell near Gwanghwamun Square in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on the afternoon of the 21st of last month.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

They added, "The contents of the balloons are paper materials, plastic bottles, and other trash," and "So far, analysis results show no harmful substances." Earlier, at around 7:55 p.m. the previous day, the Joint Chiefs had informed defense ministry reporters via text message that "North Korea is once again releasing anti-South trash balloons."

They also urged, "Citizens should be cautious of falling debris, and if you find any fallen balloons, please do not touch them and report to the nearest military unit or police."

North Korea's recent release of these trash balloons is interpreted as an expression of dissatisfaction with the South Korean government's stance regarding recent flooding near the Amnok River.

On the 24th of last month, an object suspected to be a North Korean anti-South balloon was found on Yonsei University's Sinchon Campus in Seoul.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

According to a report by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency on the 10th, Chairman Kim visited the flood-affected area of Uiju County in North Pyongan Province on the 9th and claimed, "South Korean media are fabricating reports about flood damage in the North."

Kim stated, "The enemies continue foolish attempts to tarnish our nation's image by exploiting the opportunity of our damages," and emphasized, "It is important to have a correct understanding of the South Korean trash facing our border." He added, "The enemy is an unchangeable enemy. We must turn this opportunity to directly recognize what kind of enemy they are into a chance to correct our perspective on the adversary."

Earlier, on the 2nd, Kim visited the air force helicopter unit that was deployed to rescue residents in the flooded areas, claiming that the helicopter unit and other units rescued a total of over 5,000 people, and notably, there were no casualties in Sinuiju, calling it a "miracle."

Meanwhile, North Korea's release of trash balloons has occurred 11 times since May.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.