South Korea Threatens Military Response to North Korea’s “Trash Balloons”
South Korea has warned that it may respond militarily to any casualties caused by North Korea’s ongoing “trash balloon” launches across the border, according to the state media Yonhap News Agency.
Lee Sung-joon, a spokesperson for South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff, stated that the military considers the balloon launches a “gray zone provocation” that is causing inconvenience and anxiety for the public. He condemned the tactic as “an internationally shameful and petty act” designed to incite conflict.
While acknowledging that no incidents warranting a military response have occurred so far, Lee emphasized that Seoul will consider military action if North Korea’s balloons directly cause casualties.
“If North Korea’s continued trash balloons are judged to pose a serious threat to the safety of our citizens or to have crossed the line, the military will take stern military action,” he said.
Since May 28th, North Korea has launched approximately 5,500 balloons filled with garbage towards South Korea on 22 separate occasions, with 120 balloons launched on Sunday and Monday alone.
The Joint Chiefs of Staff explained that while public opinion is demanding a physical response, such as shooting down the balloons, doing so could pose “a bigger problem to the safety of our citizens” if hazardous materials are dispersed in the air.
The launches have disrupted operations at Incheon International Airport, the main airport in Seoul, which was forced to halt takeoffs and landings twice on Monday morning due to the balloons.
Several fires, believed to be started by “heat timers” attached to the balloons, have also been reported in metropolitan areas.
The South Korean military confirmed that the balloons contain household waste items like paper, vinyl, and plastic bottles, but no hazardous materials have been identified. Some balloons even contained manure.
Seoul estimates that North Korea has spent 550 million won (approximately $411,600) on the balloon launches to date.
It is important to note that South Korean civic groups also send balloons into North Korea, often carrying rice, essential medicine, and leaflets critical of the regime in Pyongyang. North Korea has repeatedly protested such action and threatened a response.