[2024 National Audit] Ministry of National Defense: "Buk to Release Trash Balloons Again This Winter"

Ministry of National Defense Report: "22 Support Cases... Costs Total 550 Million Won"

North Korea is expected to continue releasing trash balloons this winter by taking advantage of the northwesterly winds. As of the 23rd of last month, North Korea had launched a total of 22 trash balloons, amounting to about 5,500 units, with an estimated cost of approximately 550 million won, which is equivalent to purchasing 970 tons of rice.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

According to the 2024 national audit report submitted by the Ministry of National Defense to the National Assembly’s National Defense Committee on the 8th, North Korea released the first batch of trash balloons on May 28 and continued to release balloons a total of 22 times until September 23. The release of trash and garbage balloons by North Korea has caused damage that threatens the lives and safety of the public. The Ministry of National Defense identified 78 cases of damage, including damage to vehicles and houses, as well as dangerous situations during the takeoff and landing of civilian aircraft.

North Korea is expected to continue releasing trash balloons this winter, perceiving the use of northwesterly winds as a low-cost, high-efficiency gray zone provocation method. The Ministry of National Defense pointed out that North Korea’s continuous balloon releases aim to ▲increase fatigue on our side ▲create internal conflicts ▲block the release of balloons toward North Korea. The Ministry stated, “From the time the balloons are released, we are strengthening surveillance of North Korean trash balloons in cooperation with related agencies and collecting and disposing of them after they fall,” adding, “We will conduct various psychological warfare measures against North Korea, including loudspeaker broadcasts, to induce fundamental changes in North Korea.”

The Ministry of National Defense also assessed that North Korea might codify territorial provisions and hostile states in its constitution through the Supreme People’s Assembly held on the 7th. Furthermore, the Ministry expects North Korea to attempt diversification and performance improvement of ballistic missile platforms and to analyze and supplement after the failure of military reconnaissance satellite launches, followed by additional launch attempts.

The Ministry added that North Korea “unusually revealed a highly enriched uranium production facility, emphasizing its status as a nuclear-armed state,” and that “there is also an inherent intention to enhance its bargaining power in future negotiations with the United States.”

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