North Korea floated trash balloons toward South Korea on Friday, both in the early morning and late at night, the military said, as the reclusive regime claimed that the South had sent unmanned drones over Pyongyang three times since last week. The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said North Korea sent the balloons late Friday, after launching some 40 balloons earlier in the day, just three days after a similar incident. The JCS said the bundles consisted of household garbage, such as scrap paper and plastic, and no hazardous substances had been detected. It marked the 28th time North Korea has sent trash balloons to South Korea since May. North Korea, meanwhile, claimed Friday that South Korea had sent unmanned drones carrying leaflets over Pyongyang on Oct. 3, as well as on Wednesday and Thursday of this week. "(The move) is a blatant infringement of the sacred national sovereignty and safety, and a violent violation of international law," the North's foreign ministry said, calling for South Korea to immed iately end its "dangerous provocation" that could lead to "an armed conflict that could even escalate into war." This image, released by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency on Oct. 11, 2024, shows a purported drone (in large circle) and a pack of leaflets (in small circle) that Pyongyang claims were sent by South Korea. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap) This image, released by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency on Oct. 11, 2024, shows a purported drone (in large circle) and a pack of leaflets (in small circle) that Pyongyang claims were sent by South Korea. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap) South Korean Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun, however, said South Korea has not sent a drone to North Korea. "We have not done that. I am not aware of the situation," Kim said during a parliamentary audit, when asked by lawmakers on the news report. A JCS official also echoed the view, noting it will check whether the leafl ets were sent by private organizations. Following initial remarks, Kim later told lawmakers that he could not confirm the North's claim after briefly leaving the audit session to be briefed on the situation. "Our basic stance is that we cannot confirm the truth behind such claims by North Korea," he said. "Strategically, we can only say that we cannot confirm (the claim)." When pressed for clarification, Kim only repeated the stance, citing national security and operational security. The JCS also neither confirmed nor denied the claim in a text message sent to reporters, accusing the North as being responsible for the recent situation with its launches of trash balloons that it described as "base" and "internationally embarrassing." "(We) strongly urge North Korea not to act rashly," the JCS said in a text message sent to reporters. "If in any way the safety of our people is threatened, our military will retaliate sternly and brutally." In response to the North's balloon launches, the South's military h as been blasting daily anti-North Korean propaganda broadcasts through loudspeakers along the border since July. It has refrained from directly shooting down the balloons, citing safety concerns. South Korea's military has vowed to take "stern" military measures should North Korea "cross the line" with its ongoing trash balloon campaign or inflict serious damage to the South Korean people. Source: Yonhap News Agency
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