South Korea Says North Korea Sends 240 Balloons Containing Waste

Map of South Korea and North Korea (Between)

South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said North Korea had sent about 240 balloons carrying garbage towards South Korea and about 10 of them landed in the South.

The military noted that no balloons were detected floating in the air until 10 a.m. (08.00 a.m. local time) after North Korea launched the balloons on Saturday.

Only a few balloons landed in the northern region of Gyeonggi Province surrounding Seoul as North Korea appeared to be sending garbage balloons even though the winds were blowing north and northeast.

JCS said the balloons brought pieces of paper and plastic bottles and did not contain any harmful substances. Previously, the Gyeonggi Bukbu Provincial Police Agency said it had received two reports related to balloons from North Korea.

North Korea continued its balloon campaign on Saturday for the first time in more than two weeks. It also marks the launch of the 11th balloon filled with garbage this year.

In July, several balloons launched by North Korea landed at the South Korean presidential office complex in Seoul.

North Korea has launched more than 3,600 trash balloons since May 28 in retaliation for balloons carrying anti-Pyongyang leaflets flown by North Korean defectors in South Korea.

In response to North Korea's campaign, South Korea has carried out full-scale anti-Pyongyang propaganda broadcasts every day through loudspeakers at the border since mid-July.

North Korea is furious with a loudspeaker campaign and sending anti-Pyongyang leaflets for fear of incoming information from outside could pose a threat to Kim Jong-un's regime.