North Korea took an unusual step by flying hundreds of balloons containing trash and manure towards South Korea, sparking a response from the South’s military to recover the objects in various parts of the country.
This balloon campaign coincided with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s call for military scientists to continue developing space-based reconnaissance capabilities following a failed satellite launch. Kim emphasized the importance of these capabilities in countering U.S. and South Korean military activities.
Kim warned of potential “overwhelming actions” against South Korea in response to a recent exercise involving 20 fighter jets near the inter-Korean border. He described the South’s actions as a direct military challenge, according to state media.
The South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff reported that North Korea retaliated against South Korean activists flying anti-North Korean propaganda leaflets by sending balloons with trash towards the South. The South’s military recovered around 260 North Korean balloons carrying various types of waste and manure.
In a statement, North Korean Vice Defense Minister Kim Kang Il mentioned plans to scatter “mounds of wastepaper and filth” over border areas as a tit-for-tat response to the leafletting by South Korean activists.
North Korean leader Kim Yo Jong responded to South Korea’s criticism, defending the balloon activities as a form of freedom of expression. She warned of a potential increase in similar actions in the future.
The failed satellite launch by North Korea was attributed to the reliability of a newly developed rocket engine. The incident marked a setback to Kim’s plan of launching three more military spy satellites in 2024.
Tensions between the Koreas have escalated due to Kim’s weapons demonstrations and South Korea’s military exercises with the U.S. and Japan. North Korea’s insistence on launching satellites and testing missiles has faced criticism from the international community.
Despite the recent setback, Kim urged continued efforts to improve their space capabilities. Expert analysis suggests that North Korea may be seeking to develop a more powerful space launch vehicle with external technological assistance.
Kim’s meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin and their discussions on satellite development hint at potential collaboration between North Korea and Russia in the space sector. The U.S. and South Korea have accused North Korea of supplying military equipment to Russia for its conflict in Ukraine.
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