On May 29th, a South Korean military source revealed that the South Korean military has discovered over 90 suspected North Korean balloons, some of which have landed on the ground and others are still in the air, in Seoul and along the border areas.

It is reported that the landed balloon was tied to a plastic bag containing suspected fecal debris. The South Korean military is further confirming whether the balloon is carrying anti South Korean leaflets. The South Korean Joint Staff Headquarters reminds the public to avoid contact with unidentified objects and promptly report them to the military or police. The South Korean military and police are recovering balloons that have fallen to the ground.

North Korea claims to be responding to the South Korean civil society's airdrop of anti North Korean leaflets, calling these balloons hanging with dirt and garbage "sincere gifts", and saying that more such balloons will be sent in the future.

It is reported that,North Korea also sent garbage filled balloons to South Korea in 2016，Hot event tracking will sort out this event.

South Korea strongly urges North Korea to immediately stop its low-level anti human behavior

On June 1st, the Seoul Metropolitan Government reminded the public to stay away from these objects through broadcasting and reported to the military or police when they found traces of these balloons. South Korean Defense Minister Shin Won seok criticized North Korea's behavior as "extremely stingy and low-level". Previously, the South Korean government also issued a warning to Pyongyang, stating that if North Korea continues to provoke, South Korea will not sit idly by and will take all measures that North Korea cannot afford. The South Korean Joint Staff Headquarters stated that North Korea's move is a clear violation of international law and a serious threat to the security of South Korean citizens. The South Korean side strongly urges the North Korean side to immediately stop its low-level anti human behavior.

North Korea says it will suspend releasing garbage balloons into South Korea

On June 2nd, North Korea announced that it would stop dropping garbage filled balloons onto the South Korean border, calling these "disgusting" packages an effective countermeasure against propaganda by anti regime activists. If South Koreans resume distributing anti North Korean leaflets, they will respond with 100 times of waste paper and dirt according to the number and frequency of detected leaflets and the warning already issued.

South Korea claims that North Korea's latest provocation is "unreasonable" and "low-level", and warns that if North Korea does not stop its balloon bombings, Seoul will take strong countermeasures. Meanwhile, South Korean activists have also released balloons over the border into North Korea, filled with flyers and sometimes cash, rice, or portable hard drives containing Korean dramas.

South Korea announces suspension of the effectiveness of the September 19 military agreement between South and North Korea

On June 3rd,Regarding the "balloon" incident,At the NSC work adjustment meeting chaired by the Director of National Security Council Affairs, the South Korean National Security Office announced the suspension of the effectiveness of the September 19 Military Agreement between South and North Korea until mutual trust is restored.

According to the "9.19 Military Agreement" signed by North and South Korea in 2018, they have designated buffer zones along the northern boundary of the West Sea and East China Sea to prevent occasional military conflicts. Shooting guns or conducting maritime maneuvering training in buffer zones is a violation of this agreement.

South Korea will resume military activities along the demarcation line and northwest islands

On June 4th,The relationship between the two parties has further deteriorated,The South Korean Ministry of National Defense has issued a position paper on the government's suspension of the effectiveness of the September 19 Military Agreement between South and North Korea, announcing the resumption of all military activities along the military demarcation line and the northwest islands. It is reported that the South Korean government passed a bill at the State Council meeting this morning to suspend the effectiveness of all provisions of the September 19 Military Agreement, which was approved by President Yoon Suk yeol.

South Korean Ministry of National DefenseexpressNorth Korea continues to take actions that violate the agreement, including coastal artillery fire, missile launches south of the Northern Limit Line, firing at forward outposts, and launching drone attacksTheInitiating a series of provocations such as radio wave interference, missile shooting, and airborne "garbage balloons" poses a serious threat to the security of South Korean citizens and even causes property damage.

The South Korean Ministry of National Defense stated that,all the timeThe South Korean military has always exercised restraint and patience in this regard, and has consistently adhered to the 9/19 Military Agreement. The responsibility for this situation lies entirely with the North Korean regime. If North Korea launches a new round of provocations, the South Korean military will respond severely based on the principle of "immediate, strong, and thorough" on the basis of the joint defense posture between South Korea and the United States.

According to the latest report, on June 24th, North Korea dropped over 350 "garbage balloons" into South Korea, of which more than 100 landed in the northern part of Gyeonggi Province and Seoul area. The items carried by balloons are mainly paper waste and do not contain any substances that pose a safety hazard.

At present, North Korea has stopped floating balloons and North and South Korea have released airborne objects to each other. The incident itself will not have a substantial impact on each other, but it indicates a more serious crisis on the Korean Peninsula. What exacerbates the situation is the continued military confrontation between North and South Korea. Qingqiao Vision will continue to monitor the further development of the situation between North and South Korea.