The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) sent around 600 balloons carrying trash into South Korea overnight, Seoul reported on Sunday, in what appears to be Pyongyang's attempt to send Seoul a message.

According to South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff, the balloons, carrying garbage such as cigarette butts, cloth, paper waste, and plastic, were found across the capital from 8 pm on Saturday to 10 am on Sunday.

The military stated that it was monitoring the launch points and conducting aerial reconnaissance to track and collect the balloons, which had large bags of trash suspended beneath them.

Earlier, on Wednesday, the DPRK sent hundreds of balloons carrying trash and excrement across the heavily fortified border, referring to them as "gifts of sincerity."

🇰🇵🇰🇷 North Korea has launched hundreds of balloons filled with trash and waste across the border, Seoul's military reported on Wednesday.

This action follows a warning from the North of retaliatory measures in response to anti-Pyongyang leaflets sent by South Korean activists. pic.twitter.com/28f5eoQwMK

— DD Geopolitics (@DD_Geopolitics) May 29, 2024

Seoul responded angrily, calling the action dangerous.

Emergency alerts were issued in North Gyeongsang and Gangwon provinces, as well as some parts of Seoul on Sunday, advising people not to come into contact with the balloons and to alert the police.

South Korea's National Security Council standing committee will meet on Sunday afternoon to discuss whether to resume broadcasting loudspeakers at the DPRK in response to the trash balloons, Yonhap news agency reported, citing the presidential office.

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