A group of reserve military personnel from the Korean Veterans Association (KorVA) has urged the South Korean government and military to immediately shoot down the trash balloons North Korea recently sent toward South Korea and resume loudspeaker broadcasts towards the North.
On May 31, the KorVA stated in a release, “We strongly condemn North Korea for sending trash balloons into our territory.” Pointing out, “North Korea claims that these trash balloons are a response to South Korea’s balloons towards the North, but this is on a different level from the balloons of private organizations targeting North Korea. Judging from the announcement made by Kim Yo Jong, the Deputy Director of the North Korean Workers’ Party, it’s clear this was a balloon terror operation at the level of the North Korean regime.”
KoVA emphasized, “The UN Command declared this as an immediate violation of the armistice agreement and international law, but the South Korean military did not respond immediately. We must respond properly to prevent any additional provocation intentions.”
The trash balloons North Korea sent southwards between May 28 and 29 collectively amounted to more than 260 balloons. They were found in Gyeonggi, Gangwon, Seoul, Gyeongnam Geochang, and Chungnam Gyeryong. On May 29, Kim announced through the Korean Central News Agency regarding the trash balloons, “This is the freedom of expression of our people” and also forecasted additional dispersal.