South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said Seoul may respond militarily to any casualties caused by North Korea's launching of so-called "trash balloons."

Over the weekend, North Korea launched a further batch of balloons carrying waste across the border, causing chaos in the south and provoking anger from Seoul officials. The response from South Korea signals that the heightening tensions between the two may soon spill over into a more significant confrontation.

South Korea warned of possible military actions if North Korea continues to fly more trash balloons across the border, a rare direct threat of retaliation since Pyongyang started sending them in May.

South Korea said Monday it would take "decisive military action" if anyone is killed by the wave of trash-carrying balloons being launched across the border by North Korea.Shortly after the North's launch of trash-filled balloons in May,

South Korea's military on Monday vowed to take "stern" military measures should North Korea "cross the line" with its ongoing trash balloon campaign or inflict serious damage to the South Korean people.