North Korea Launches More Trash Balloons Toward South, Heightening Tensions

By Madz Dizon

Jun 02, 2024 06:46 AM EDT

North Korea Launches More Trash Balloons Toward South, Heightening Tensions
A man watches a television screen showing a news broadcast with a photo of North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un, at a train station in Seoul on May 30, 2024.
(Photo : JUNG YEON-JE/AFP via Getty Images)

South Korea's military has reported that North Korea has once again launched a large number of balloons filled with garbage towards its southern neighbor.

Debris Found in Balloons Launched from North Korea

South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff reported that approximately 600 balloons flown from North Korea were discovered in different areas of South Korea between Saturday night and Sunday morning.

According to South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff, the balloons contained cigarette butts, scraps of cloth, waste paper, and vinyl. However, there were no hazardous materials included, AP reported.

In Seoul, the city government issued text alerts informing residents that unidentified objects, believed to have been flown from North Korea, were detected in the skies near the city. The military promptly initiated a response to the situation.

It is important for individuals to exercise caution and refrain from handling any objects that may have originated from the northern area, as there is a risk of falling debris.

READ NEXT: North Korea Drops Hundreds of Balloons Filled With Trash, Manure Into South Korean Border

South Korea Recovers Balloons with Manure Debris

Earlier this week, the government of Kim Jong Un released hundreds of balloons containing debris and manure towards South Korea.

South Korea's military has deployed specialized teams to recover debris from over 260 balloons that were discovered in different locations across the country. 

According to Sky News, the teams include chemical rapid response and explosive clearance units, ensuring the safe retrieval of the balloons. 

The military stated that the balloons contained a variety of waste and manure, but assured that there were no hazardous substances such as chemical, biological, or radioactive materials. Several balloons were discovered with timers indicating that they were intended to burst the bags of garbage while in flight.

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