South Korea on Wednesday accused North Korea of sending large numbers of balloons across its fortified border to launch objects including garbage and excrement, calling the act dangerous.
The Military Explosives Unit and Chemical and Biological Warfare Response Team were deployed to inspect and collect the items, and an alert was issued warning residents to stay away and to report any sightings to authorities.
More than 260 hot air balloons were detected Wednesday afternoon, and most of them fell to the ground, the Joint Chiefs of Staff said.
North Korea pledged to send more balloons to South Korea on Wednesday, dozens of times the number it said it had sent to its territory, state media KCNA reported.
Photographs released by the South Korean military showed inflated balloons with plastic bags tied to them. Other images appeared to show rubbish strewn around falling balloons, with the word “excrement” written on a bag in one photograph.
Yonhap news agency reported that some of the balloons contained animal feces.
An official from the presidential office in Seoul said the North may want to “test” the South’s reaction, but promised to respond calmly.
“By placing garbage and various objects in the balloons, they seem to want to test how our people would react and whether our government would actually be affected by them and, in addition to direct provocations, how psychological warfare and small-scale complex threats would occur in our country. “the official told reporters.
Balloons are regularly sent to the other side by South Korean activists, often led by North Korean defectors.
North Korea has reacted angrily to these balloons, which often carry anti-Pyongyang leaflets, mini radios, food and USB sticks featuring music videos and K-pop dramas.
On Sunday, North Korea’s vice defense minister denounced the balloons sent by South Korean activists, calling them “dirty things” and a “dangerous provocation,” and warned that in response “piles of old paper and dirt”.
North Korea also attempted to jam GPS signals in South Korea on Wednesday morning, although no damage was reported, the Donga Ilbo newspaper said, citing several unnamed government sources.
Seoul’s Defense Ministry said it had no information to offer immediately.
Source: Terra
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