North Korea has recently escalated its propaganda campaign by launching around 20 balloons filled with trash into South Korean territory.
A Direct Response
This incident is part of the ongoing battle of wits and messages between the two nations, further heightening tensions on the Korean Peninsula.
The balloon launch appears to be a direct response to reports of South Korean drones flying over Pyongyang, North Korea's capital. The North has expressed outrage at these drone activities, which they allege involve the distribution of propaganda materials, according to El Economista.
South Korea's armed forces confirmed the discovery of the balloons, ten of which landed in Cheorwon, a city located in the Gangwon province near the border.
The balloons carried household waste, used paper, and plastic, but South Korean authorities reported that no hazardous or explosive materials were found among the debris.
This latest launch marks the 28th instance of such balloon releases since May, indicating a pattern in North Korea's provocative actions.
A Propaganda War
In addition to the balloon launches, North Korea has claimed that South Korean drones have dropped propaganda leaflets over Pyongyang on three separate occasions this month.
The North’s state newspaper, the Rodong Sinmun, reported on these claims citing a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. However, South Korea's Defense Minister, Kim Yong Hyun, has not verified these allegations, as it is uncommon for North Korea to openly address South Korean propaganda initiatives.
Both nations are engaged in a mutual propaganda effort, with South Korea using loudspeakers along the border to broadcast anti-North Korean messages.
Despite the ongoing exchanges of hostile messages, South Korea has chosen not to shoot down the balloons due to safety concerns.
In response to these provocative actions from the North, the South Korean military has vowed to take "severe" military measures if North Korea crosses any lines or causes harm to South Korean citizens through these propaganda tactics.
