North Korea Sends Trash Balloons to South as Kim Focuses on Satellite Ambitions
North Korea released balloons carrying rubbish and excrement towards South Korea, triggering a military response. Despite a failed satellite launch, Kim Jong Un has urged his military scientists to continue developing space-based reconnaissance capabilities. North Korea retaliated against South Korean protestors by deploying trash-carrying balloons.
In an unusual act of provocation, North Korea has flown hundreds of balloons carrying rubbish and excrement towards South Korea. This extraordinary move prompted the South Korean military to deploy chemical and explosive response teams to gather the objects and debris spread throughout the country.
The balloon effort coincides with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's request that his military scientists overcome a recent botched satellite launch and continue developing space-based reconnaissance capabilities. Kim feels that these capabilities are critical for countering US and South Korean military activity, according to official media reports on Wednesday.
Kim's comments about the failed satellite launch were his first public remarks on the matter. He also issued a warning of "overwhelming actions" against South Korea in response to an exercise involving 20 fighter jets near the inter-Korean border, which took place just hours before North Korea's unsuccessful launch on Monday. Kim described the South Korean response as a "hysterical attack formation flight and strike drill" and a "direct military challenge" towards North Korea.
In retaliation against South Korean activists who have been flying anti-North Korean propaganda leaflets across the border, North Korea has been launching large numbers of trash-carrying balloons towards the South since Tuesday night, according to South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff.
As of Wednesday afternoon, approximately 260 North Korean balloons have been found in various parts of South Korea. The military has deployed rapid response and explosive clearance teams to recover the balloons, which have brought various types of trash and manure. So far, no human excrement has been discovered. Civilians have been advised not to touch any objects from North Korea and to report their findings to the military or police.
North Korean Vice Defense Minister Kim Kang Il had previously announced the country's plan to scatter "mounds of wastepaper and filth" over border areas and other parts of South Korea as a tit-for-tat response to the leafletting by South Korean activists.
In another show of defiance, Kim Yo Jong, the North Korean leader's influential sister, mocked a South Korean military statement demanding an end to the "inhumane and vulgar activity." She claimed that North Korea was merely expressing its freedom of expression, which the Seoul government has used to justify its inability to prevent the activists from flying leaflets across the border.
The South Korean military released photos showing rubbish littered across highways and roads throughout the country. In Seoul, military officials uncovered what looked to be a timer designed to pop trash bags in flight. Two big balloons carrying unopened plastic bags containing dirt-like particles were discovered on a road in South Chungcheong province.
So yet, there have been no reports of balloon-related damage. However, similar North Korean balloon actions in 2016 caused damage to cars and other property.
The failed satellite launch represents a setback to Kim's plans to launch three additional military surveillance satellites in 2024, after successfully launching North Korea's first military reconnaissance satellite into orbit last November. The November launch followed two prior failed efforts.
The launch has sparked concern from South Korea, Japan, and the United States, as the United Nations prohibits North Korea from performing such rocket launches, perceiving them as a cover for long-range missile tests.
Despite the setbacks, North Korea maintains its right to launch satellites and test missiles in response to what it sees as US-led military threats. Kim believes spy satellites are critical for monitoring US and South Korean military actions, as well as boosting the danger presented by North Korea's nuclear-capable missiles.
In his remarks, Kim highlighted the necessity of learning from mistakes and making progress. However, North Korea has not stated when it intends to undertake another satellite launch.
North Korea has launched balloons carrying trash and manure towards South Korea, prompting a response from the South Korean military.
Kim Jong Un urges his military scientists to continue developing space-based reconnaissance capabilities despite a recent failed satellite launch.
North Korea retaliates against South Korean activists by launching trash-carrying balloons.
Source: AP NEWS