South Korean Ministry of Defense: ”North Korea's 'trash balloons' cause harm to citizens”... ”Strengthening surveillance”

South Korea's Ministry of National Defense said, "North Korea's scattering of ``trash balloons'' toward South Korea is causing damage that threatens the lives and safety of our citizens," and announced that it would "strengthen our response posture."
On the 8th, the Ministry of National Defense said in a business report to the National Assembly's National Defense Committee plenary session that "North Korea released a total of 3,600 garbage balloons on 10 occasions between May 28 and July 24."
According to the Ministry of National Defense, the contents of North Korea's anti-South Korea balloons initially consisted of feces, compost, and cigarette butts, but later changed to paper, plastic, and cloth, and finally to wastepaper.
The South Korean military has changed the name of the balloons from "filth balloons" to "garbage balloons" in line with this change. There have been 41 cases of damage, including damage to vehicles and houses, caused by North Korea's balloon scattering against South Korea.
This resulted in serious damage that seriously threatened the lives and safety of the people, including dangerous situations during takeoff and landing for civilian aircraft.
The Ministry of National Defense stated that North Korea's intentions were "to send balloons to North Korea (by South Korean private organizations)."
"In a situation where there is a fear of South Korean ideology and the like being infiltrated into the country, the aim is to foment South-South conflict (conflict within South Korea) by scattering anti-South balloons while at the same time blocking anti-North balloons," he analyzed.
In response to North Korean provocations, the Ministry of National Defense stressed that it would "strengthen surveillance under the US-ROK combined defense posture to deter North Korean provocations and respond forcefully if provocations occur."
Furthermore, regarding the anti-North Korea loudspeakers, he said, "We will make broadcasts a part of our daily routine and maintain our preparedness in the event of further provocations."