North Korea has resumed launching trash-filled balloons toward South Korea just three days after the last incident.
South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) announced Monday that objects, presumed to be balloons, were seen drifting south from North Korea. The balloons, carried by wind currents, are expected to head toward Gyeonggi Province and the greater Seoul area. Authorities have urged the public to avoid handling debris and report it to the military or police.
This year, North Korea has launched balloons toward South Korea a total of 25 times.
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol addressed the ongoing provocations in an interview with the Associated Press, warning that if these balloon launches pose a threat to public safety, North Korea could face a response it “will find difficult to endure.” This suggests that the South Korean government might consider military action if the situation escalates, though the current policy remains focused on removing the balloons after they land.
Military officials have explained that shooting down the balloons could spread hazardous materials, potentially creating even greater safety concerns. However, as the damage caused by these balloons accumulates, public pressure is mounting for more proactive measures, including the possibility of targeting the source of the launches.
According to an exclusive report by the Seoul Shinmun, Seoul needs to compensate the citizens approximately $90,000 this year for damage caused by these balloons.
In terms of damage types, the most common incidents involved vehicle damage, with 27 cases related to windshield and roof damage, and there were 25 property damage cases, including balconies and roofs of homes. Some individuals also received compensation for injuries caused by balloon debris hitting their arms or heads.
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