North Korea’s Balloon Campaign Escalates Tensions with South

North Korea has renewed its psychological warfare against South Korea by flying balloons loaded with trash across the border. This follows Pyongyang's anger towards South Korean activists sending anti-Pyongyang leaflets. South Korea has responded by broadcasting propaganda and K-pop songs, inflaming already high tensions.

South Korea's military has reported that North Korea is once again sending balloons likely filled with trash over the border, escalating a bizarre psychological warfare campaign amid mounting tensions between the two nations.

The South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff announced on Saturday that prevailing winds could propel the balloons to areas north of Seoul. Both Seoul City Hall and the Gyeonggi provincial government quickly sent out alerts advising citizens to report any sightings of balloons to military or police authorities. Thus far, no injuries or property damage have been reported. North Korea has launched over 2,000 balloons in recent weeks, carrying waste paper, cloth scraps, and cigarette butts, claiming it is in retaliation against South Korean activists who have been sending anti-Pyongyang leaflets across the border.

In a countermeasure, South Korea has activated loudspeakers along the frontline to blast propaganda messages and K-pop songs, actions which experts say North Korea detests due to their potential to demoralize its troops and civilians. These Cold War-style tactics have heightened tensions, with both sides threatening more severe measures. Relations have deteriorated further due to North Korea's ongoing development of its nuclear weapons and missile programs, and its periodic threats of nuclear conflict against Washington and Seoul.

(With inputs from agencies.)