As tensions between US-allied South Korea and Russia-backed North Korea intensify, both nations have adopted increasingly unconventional ways to express their frustrations.
North Korea has sent thousands of balloons loaded with trash into South Korea throughout the year, while South Korea has responded by broadcasting K-pop and propaganda through loudspeakers positioned along the border. This month alone, over 400 balloons have been found, with at least two landing inside a government complex in Seoul. These balloons typically carry harmless household waste, though some have been filled with manure.
No one has been harmed by the balloons, but South Korean military officials are concerned that the attached timing devices pose a fire hazard. “We believe there is a possibility of a fire when the thermal wires are activated to separate the balloons from their load,” explained Lt. Col. Lee Changhyun. He added that the cause of fires potentially linked to the balloons is under investigation by authorities.
One such fire was reported in Paju last week after a trash balloon landed on a warehouse roof.
The South Korean military is collaborating with local police to devise a strategy to manage the balloon threat, but shooting them down has been ruled out due to concerns about falling debris, according to Changhyun.
In addition to the trash balloons, North Korea has also conducted several missile tests over the past week. These tests have involved short-range ballistic missiles (SRBMs) launched northeast and cruise missiles following a figure-8 pattern off South Korea’s western coast. According to South Korean media (KCNA), the tests featured a new ballistic missile, the Hwasongpho-11-Da-4.5, capable of carrying a 4.5-ton warhead. Unlike a previous test in July, which was reportedly unsuccessful, KCNA published a photo showing this missile landing successfully.
Military experts suggest that North Korea’s combined use of ballistic and cruise missiles in these tests signals a strategy of deception in the event of conflict. Ballistic missiles travel at high speeds on predictable paths, making them easier to detect, while cruise missiles fly slower, are less destructive, but are more difficult to spot. Using both in combination could make it harder for adversaries to track and respond to missile threats.
