Garbage carried by a North Korean balloon has landed on presidential complex in downtown Seoul on Thursday, South Korean officials confirmed in a stunning security breach. This is the second such incident since then North Korea resumed sending balloon-borne garbage to South Korea in late May, reviving Cold War-era psychological warfare tactics.
South Korea’s Presidential Security Service assured that the debris contained no hazardous materials. It remains unclear, however, whether the president Yoon Suk Yeol was present in the complex when the balloon made contact.
Experts suggest that North Korea lacks the advanced technology needed to precisely target specific locations.
According to local media reports, including the Dong-A Ilbo newspaper, the latest balloons carried not only trash but also propaganda leaflets condemning President Yoon and First Lady Kim Keon-hee. These leaflets were reportedly scattered around Seoul’s Yongsan district, where the presidential office is located. The newspaper also noted that North Korea may have begun using GPS technology to more accurately deliver these balloons to their intended targets.
The balloon campaign follows North Korea’s accusations that South Korea has deployed drones to drop propaganda leaflets over Pyongyang three times this month. North Korean officials have warned of military retaliation if such incidents continue. Although South Korea has not confirmed the use of drones, it has issued a stern warning that any threat to the safety of its citizens would mean the end of the North Korean regime.
A similar balloon incident occurred in July, when debris carried by a North Korean balloon also landed on the presidential compound, raising concerns about the security of vital South Korean facilities. As in the last case, no hazardous materials were found in the wreckage.
North Korean Garbage-Filled Balloon Falls on South Korean Presidential Complex – Times of India
