(NationRise.com) – South Korea’s government has wholly suspended a military pact with its hostile neighbor after North Korea floated a large number of balloons filled with trash over its border.
South Korean officials also promised an “unbearable” retaliation over the incident. The North has floated hundreds of balloons over the past week into South Korea in an apparent simulation of nuclear attacks. The government has discovered just over 700 balloons so far. Some of the balloons also contained manure. They also accused North Korea of jamming GPS transmissions across the South.
Chang Ho-jin, who serves as the director of national security for South Korea, confirmed on June 2nd his government’s intention to retaliate. However, they did not say what actions would be taken or when. Experts believe they will likely begin broadcasts with loudspeakers at its border that discuss world news while criticizing North Korea’s human rights violations. It will also stream popular K-pop music. South Korea has used the tactic in the past as citizens of the North are prohibited from accessing outside information.
Chang also called the North’s actions absurd and irrational. He said they were just intimidation tactics to instill anxiety and fear in South Korea.
North Korean officials claimed the balloons were floated in response to activists flying anti-Pyongyang leaflets across the border. Those messages were also carried with balloons.
It’s not the first time North Korea has retaliated over balloon activities. It blew up an office in a South Korean office used for liaisons in 2020. The building was empty at the time.
Experts believe this is just the first in a series of aggressive acts from North Korea. They believe it’s trying to further the divide between the two countries while also increasing hostilities ahead of the 2024 US presidential elections.
The North has also drastically increased its weapons production and nuclear capabilities. It’s also holding drills with nuclear-capable warheads that experts believe simulate an attack against the South.
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