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Kwak Gil-sup, President of One Korea Center

Since May 28, North Korea has sent trash into South Korean airspace four times. While North Korea's abnormal behavior is not a recent occurrence, this provocation marks a new low in the history of leaflet distribution.

Neither passively enduring nor overreacting is the best response. If the government fails to unite domestic and international public opinion, it could lead to a loss of national dignity and pride, leaving us vulnerable to further provocations and tactics aimed at creating internal conflicts.

It's Not Trash "Balloons" but Trash "Terror"

Media reports have been referring to the incidents as "trash balloons" since they began. However, this term doesn't accurately capture the severity of the situation. "Trash terror" is a more precise and fitting description.

The large amount of trash has insulted and instilled fear in the South Korean public. In some areas, trash has damaged windshields and disrupted operations at Incheon International Airport. Although the damage was not severe this time, the potential for a major accident remains. In the worst-case scenario, we could imagine North Korea deploying biological or chemical weapons in such balloons, which is terrifying. Therefore, it is crucial to accurately name the issue from the start. It is not "trash balloons" but "inhuman trash terror."

Background of North Korea's choice of Trash Terror' provocation

North Korea claimed that its first trash terror at the end of May was in response to the leaflet distribution by the North Korean defector group Fighters for a Free North Korea on May 10. However, this is actually a calculated multi-purpose psychological warfare, also serving as a test of hybrid warfare applied to the Korean Peninsula, a tactic recently highlighted in the Israel-Hamas conflict.

I assume North Korea's recent trash terror has the following motives:

In the long term, it is an extension of the 'power-for-power' strategy pursued since the diplomatic disaster in Hanoi in February 2019; In the short term, it is a practical step towards Kim Jong-un's "two-Korea policy" declared at the end of the year.

More directly, it is part of the follow-up actions to the decisions made at the Politburo meeting chaired by Kim Jong-un on May 24.

Kim Jong-un orchestrated two significant events during the Politburo of the Workers' Party of Korea meeting in late May. First, he decided to hold the "10th Plenary Meeting of the 8th Central Committee of the WPK" in late June. This plenary meeting to be held just before the Supreme People's Assembly will formalize new borders in the constitution.

Second, after hearing reports on military issues from the General Staff Department, he issued related, undisclosed orders. The content of these orders can be inferred from the statement by North Korea's vice defense minister Kim Kang-il on May 25, which warned of strong responses to South Korea-U.S. joint military exercises, civilian leaflet distributions, and South Korean Navy's Northern Limit Line (NLL) violations.

Since then, North Korea has engaged in various provocations, including launching a reconnaissance satellite, trash terror against South Korea, testing the 600mm super-large multiple launch rocket system (MLRS), GPS jamming in the West Sea, violating the military demarcation line, and reinstalling loudspeaker broadcasting along the demilitarized zone. These actions indicate calculated psychological warfare and simulated attack training. Additionally, the conditional suspension announced by Kim Kang-il on June 2 ("100-fold response if leaflets are distributed again") and Kim Yo-jong's retaliation warning on June 9 ("new response to leaflet distribution and loudspeaker broadcasts") are typical hit-and-run tactics aimed at blaming South Korea for heightened tensions, characterized by low-cost, high-efficiency fear-inducing strategies.

Based on current developments, North Korea is likely to continue provoking South Korea with aggressive rhetoric and various actions. These provocations aim to create internal debates about 'war or peace' and instill fear of conflict. By the late June Plenary Meeting and the July Supreme People's Assembly, North Korea is expected to finalize and announce new borders, marking a significant step in their "two-Korea Policy".

North Korea will likely exploit South Korea's political landscape, characterized by intense conflicts and opposition, as well as the anti-American struggle period (June 25 to July 27) and the South Korea-U.S. joint nuclear exercises in August. This includes launching reconnaissance satellites, testing strategic weapons, and possibly conducting a seventh nuclear test. These maneuvers aim to dominate the Korean Peninsula situation and set the stage for new negotiations after the U.S. presidential election and the Ukraine war.

Outlook and direction of response

Kim Jong-un has pushed an anti-nationalistic, anti-unification "two-Korea policy" this year, unlike his predecessors. Over the past five months, he likely weighed the pros and cons and decided the benefits outweighed the costs, erasing traces of national cooperation. The recent trash terror operation is part of this strategy. It's assumed North Korea anticipated South Korea's countermeasures, such as resuming psychological warfare.

The recent provocations, including trash terror, are part of North Korea's strategy to solidify its "two Korea policy." After unsettling South Korea internally from late May to early June, North Korea is expected to adjust its tactics before Vladimir Putin's visit and the late June Party Plenary Meeting. Following the constitutional amendment at the July Supreme People's Assembly (stipulating territorial regulations), North Korea will likely intensify its offensive across all domains.

The South Korea and international community should approach Kim Jong-un cautiously. To solve this abnormal behavior problem, regional and global organizations such as the United Nations and its members, particularly ASEAN, which is close to the Korean Peninsula, should have a strong voice to pressure and enforce the existing sanctions against North Korea. Embracing this challenge as an opportunity, the government should strive to bring about fundamental transformation in the North Korean regime. Now, the South Korean government took steps: suspending the September 19 Military Agreement, putting the military on high alert, and resuming loudspeaker broadcasts. These actions aim to manage the situation and advance North Korean liberalization.

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has directed the three state security agencies to intensify search operations for individuals who went missing after the two passenger buses plunged into Trishuli river at Simaltal, Chitwan.

The Prime Minister summoned the heads of the security bodies at his private residence in Khumaltar on Sunday to receive updates on the accident.

He urged them to take all necessary measures to search for the missing individuals.

Two passenger buses: one heading to Gaur from Kathmandu (03-001 Kha 2495) and another going to Kathmandu from Birgunj (03-006 Kha. 1516) were swept away by landslide into the Trishuli river on Friday morning at Simaltal in Bharatpur Metropolis-29.

The PM utilized the meeting to express gratitude to the security personnel involved in rescue and relief operations amidst monsoon-triggered incidents nationwide including in Simaltal, risking their lives.

"The bureaucracy and security agencies, as permanent institutions, should commit themselves unreservedly to serving the people, no matter how the political situation is," he stated.

Donald Trump was shot in the ear during a Saturday campaign rally, streaking the Republican presidential candidate's blood across his face and prompting his security agents to swarm him, before he emerged and pumped his fist in the air, mouthing the words "Fight! Fight! Fight!"

The shooter was dead, one rally attendee was killed and two other spectators were injured, the Secret Service said in a statement. The incident was being investigated as an assassination attempt, Reuters reported.

Law enforcement officials told reporters they had tentatively identified a suspected shooter but were not ready to do so publicly. They also said they not yet identified a motive.

Trump, 78, had just started his speech when the shots rang out. He grabbed his right ear with his right hand, then brought his hand down to look at it before dropping to his knees behind the podium before Secret Service agents swarmed and covered him. He emerged about a minute later, his red "Make America Great Again" hat knocked off, and could be heard saying "wait, wait," before the fist bump, then agents rushed him to a black SUV.

"I was shot with a bullet that pierced the upper part of my right ear," Trump said later on his Truth Social platform following the shooting in Butler, Pennsylvania, about 30 miles (50 km) north of Pittsburgh. "Much bleeding took place."

The shooting occurred less than four months before the Nov. 5 election, when Trump faces an election rematch with Democratic President Joe Biden. Most opinion polls including those by Reuters/Ipsos show the two locked in a close contest, according to Reuters.

Leading Republicans and Democrats quickly condemned the violence.

The Trump campaign said he was "doing well."

Biden said in a statement: "There’s no place for this kind of violence in America. We must unite as one nation to condemn it."

Republican US Representative Ronny Jackson of Texas told Fox News his nephew had been wounded at the rally.

The shooting raised immediate questions about security failures by the Secret Service, which provides former presidents including Trump with lifetime protection.

It was the first shooting of a US president or major party candidate since the 1981 attempted assassination of Republican President Ronald Reagan, Reuters reported.

Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro said Trump has left the Butler area under the protection of the US Secret Service with the assistance of the Pennsylvania state police. Republican U.S. Representative Daniel Meuser told CNN Trump was headed to Bedminster, New Jersey, where he has a golf club.

President Ram Chandra Paudel will appoint the new Prime Minister today.

The process of appointment and swearing-in of the Prime Minister will take place today after the deadline set by the President for the formation of the new government comes to an end, said Kiran Pokharel, the Press Advisor of the President.

President Paudel had, in accordance with Article 76 (2) of the Constitution, called on parties on Friday to submit their stake on the new government leadership by 5 pm today.

Accordingly, the Chairperson of CPN-UML KP Sharma Oli had submitted his claim for the post of the Prime Minister on Friday itself with the support of Nepali Congress.

Following the expiration of the deadline at 5 pm, President Paudel will appoint the Prime Minister this evening. However, the swearing-in ceremony of the prime minister and ministers will be held at 11 am on Monday, as the time will not be enough for the same on Sunday, added Press Advisor Pokharel.

A new government is being formed after incumbent Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal lost a majority of the Parliament, with the CPN-UML deciding to part ways with him and join hands with the main opposition, Nepali Congress.