A balloon carrying trash from North Korea landed on the grounds of South Korea’s presidential office in Seoul on Wednesday, according to security officials. This incident is part of an ongoing campaign by North Korea, which has been launching balloons filled with trash across the heavily fortified border since May.
The South Korean Presidential Security Service confirmed that it tracked the balloon in real-time as it drifted over the border before landing in the compound. The balloon posed no danger, according to the agency, and a chemical, biological, and radiological response team was dispatched to inspect the payload, which was found to be non-hazardous.
The North Korean balloons have carried various forms of waste, including bottles, old batteries, and manure. The latest incident saw the balloons filled mostly with waste paper. This tactic has heightened tensions between the two Koreas, with South Korea deeming the balloon launches as vulgar and shameful. In response, South Korea has been broadcasting K-pop songs and propaganda messages across the border.
North Korea claims the balloon launches are a retaliatory measure against South Korean activists and defectors who have been sending propaganda leaflets into the North. The North’s campaign has involved over 3,000 balloons, which have mostly landed on trees, farms, and urban areas, causing nuisance but no significant harm.
This latest incident marked the first time a balloon from North Korea had landed inside the 68-acre presidential compound in central Seoul, raising security concerns. The South Korean Defense Minister, Shin Won-sik, indicated that the military is closely monitoring North Korean activities and suggested that Pyongyang might respond with military actions against the sources of the South Korean balloon launches.
Earlier this month, Kim Yo Jong, the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, criticized South Korea for sending “dirty leaflets” into the North, hinting at the resumption of balloon launches. Expanded Coverage:
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