Seoul warns of ‘military action’ after another North Korean trash balloon launch | NK News
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October 12, 2026Oct 12, 2026

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Seoul warns of ‘military action’ after another North Korean trash balloon launch

South Korea says it would retaliate if balloons endanger citizens, following launch that caused flight suspensions

South Korea warned that it will take “decisive military action” if North Korean trash balloons threaten citizens’ safety or “cross a critical line,” following another launch over the weekend.

Seoul’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) announced that the military detected the launch of about 120 trash balloons from the DPRK between Sunday evening and early Monday morning, leading to flight suspensions at the country’s main international airport.

Approximately 30 payloads containing paper, plastic and other household waste were subsequently found in Gyeonggi Province and Seoul, though military analysis detected no hazardous materials, according to the JCS.

“This is an internationally