Mon Oct 14 19:42:35 UTC 2024: ## North Korea’s Trash Balloons Equipped with GPS Transmitters, South Korea Says
**Seoul, South Korea** – South Korea’s military revealed on Sunday that some of the balloons launched by North Korea to dump trash across the border are equipped with GPS transmitters. The Joint Chiefs of Staff suspect Pyongyang may be using these devices to collect data on the balloons’ flight patterns.
According to Yonhap news agency, GPS transmitters were found in several balloons, prompting South Korean military officials to monitor North Korea’s potential advancements in balloon technology. “The military is tracking North Korea’s possible development of balloon flotation technology and preparing for contingencies,” a South Korean military official stated.
The recent revelation comes after North Korea has launched approximately 6,000 balloons filled with trash towards South Korea this year. This campaign, according to the Joint Chiefs of Staff, has cost Pyongyang an estimated 600 million won ($444,148).
While the purpose of the trash balloons remains unclear, the discovery of GPS transmitters raises concerns about North Korea’s potential espionage activities and technological development. South Korea’s military is closely monitoring the situation and taking steps to ensure national security.
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