South Korea’s presidential office took urgent measures after discovering multiple waste balloons sent from North Korea within its premises.
For the first time, the South Korean presidential compound in downtown Seoul has been directly hit by one of the thousands of trash-carrying balloons that Pyongyang has launched this year.
On the morning of the same day, the presidential office identified several North Korean balloons, likely carrying trash, that had fallen on its premises and began examining their contents.
Earlier that morning, North Korea resumed its balloon provocations, launching its tenth balloon aimed at South Korea.
This morning, it was confirmed that some of the balloons sent by North Korea appeared to have entered the presidential office building.
The presidential office is assessing the number of balloons that have landed on its grounds and is examining their specific contents.
The presidential security service and the staff monitored and identified falling balloons on the presidential compound.
A security service representative told News1, “We have completed the collection of the fallen balloons, and an investigation by the chemical response team confirmed that the objects pose no risk or contamination.”
“We continue to monitor the situation in coordination with the Joint Chiefs of Staff,” they added.
Early last month, trash-carrying balloons launched by Pyongyang were discovered near the National Museum of Korea in Yongsan, the Yongsan District Office, and shops near Itaewon Station.