South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) reported on Friday an increase in North Korean balloon launches carrying trash, marking the third consecutive day of such activity.
From Thursday night to Friday morning, around 260 balloons were launched, with 140 trash bundles discovered in Seoul and Gyeonggi Province, the JCS said. The recovered items mostly contained paper and plastic bottles, with no harmful substances found.
These balloon launches began in late May, in response to anti-Pyongyang leaflets sent by defectors and activists from South Korea. Newly appointed South Korean Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun vowed a strong stance against North Korea which could include nuclear armament, if needed.