Trash-filled balloons from North Korea disrupt South Korean and U.S. operations in Seoul

North Korea's trash balloons disrupted South Korean and U.S. operations. 

North Korean Balloon Provocation Reaches South Korean Presidential Compound and U.S. Military Base

Trash ballons hits US Army

North Korea executed another round of provocative actions by releasing balloons filled with hazardous waste into South Korea on Wednesday. This time, the trash-filled balloons not only drifted into the South Korean territory but also landed in the vicinity of the South Korean presidential compound in Seoul and a nearby U.S. military base—severely disrupting the ongoing operations at these sensitive locations.

Response from South Korea

The office of President Yoon Suk Yeol confirmed that it actively monitored the trajectory of the balloons in real-time. It also stated that it "accurately measured the landing location, then took prompt and secure measures upon its impact on the presidential compound's grounds."

A direct attempt to neutralize the balloon that was headed for the presidential compound was avoided to prevent any potential harm, as the contents of the balloon were initially unknown. However, subsequent inspections revealed that the payload consisted of more non-hazardous waste, aligning with the recent trend of North Korean balloon launches aimed at engaging in a propaganda battle with South Korea. A specialized team, trained to respond to chemical, biological, and radiological threats, examined the object and confirmed that it posed no danger or contamination. The collected debris is under continued monitoring to ensure the safety of the surroundings, officials reported.

Incidents at Other Locations

In addition to the incursion near the presidential compound, a number of other balloons landed in various locations, including Yoon's central Seoul office and the U.S. Army Garrison Yongsan-Casey, situated approximately 20 miles north of the capital. The Yongsan base, previously serving as the headquarters of the unified U.S. Forces Korea, experienced similar disruptions due to the descent of the North Korean balloons, which predominantly carried scrap paper and snack wrappers. While there were no reports of significant security breaches, certain precautionary measures, such as temporary entry restrictions and event postponements, were implemented. Nonetheless, the situation was contained, and there were no reported disturbances resulting from the incident.

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