South Korea on Wednesday accused North Korea of sending a large number of balloons across its fortified border to throwing objects such as garbage and excrementdescribing the act as basic and dangerous.
The military explosives unit and the chemical and biological warfare response team were deployed to inspect and collect the objects and an alert was issued warning residents to stay away and inform the authorities of any sightings.
As of Wednesday afternoon, more than 260 balloonsmost of which had fallen to the ground, according to the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
The South Korean army showed off the balloons sent by North Korea
Photos released by the South Korean military showed inflated balloons with plastic bags tied to them. Other images appeared to show trash strewn around collapsed balloons, with the word “excrement” written on a bag in one photograph. The Yonhap news agency said some of the balloons contained animal feces.
An official from the presidential office of Seoul said that he North might want “test” the reaction of the South, but he promised to respond calmly.
“By putting garbage and various objects in the balloons, it seems that they want to test how our people would react and whether our government is really disturbed, and apart from direct provocations, how psychological warfare and complex small-scale threats would develop in our country “the official told reporters.
North Korea He assured that he will send more balloons heading south, dozens of times the amount sent to his territory, according to the state agency KCNA. Balloons have regularly been sent the wrong way by South Korean activists, often led by North Korean defectors.
Pyongyang has reacted angrily to the arrival of those balloons, which usually carry critical leaflets, mini radios, food and USB drives with music videos and K-pop material.
Source: Ambito
