North Korean Trash Balloon Lands Near South Korean President’s Office

North Korea has once again floated balloons loaded with trash across the heavily militarized border into South Korea. This latest incident marks the first time one of these balloons has landed near South Korea’s presidential compound in Yongsan, central Seoul, authorities reported.

The Presidential Security Service confirmed that the balloon, which touched down near President Yoon Suk-yeol’s office, did not contain any dangerous materials and caused no injuries. The Joint Chiefs of Staff of South Korea announced on Wednesday that multiple balloons had been launched from North Korea towards their territory, urging Seoul residents to report any sightings and avoid contact with the objects.

This is the 10th round of balloon launches from Pyongyang this year, occurring just days after South Korea announced plans to intensify propaganda broadcasts across the inter-Korean border. Since May, North Korea has sent over 2,000 balloons carrying various types of refuse, including cigarette butts, wastepaper, used batteries, and compost.

While these balloons have not resulted in injuries or significant damage, they have raised concerns in South Korea about the potential for hazardous materials, such as chemical or biological agents, to be included in the payloads.

North Korea claims these actions are a response to South Korean activists sending leaflets and USB drives into the North, aimed at undermining the regime of Kim Jong Un. Kim Yo Jong, the influential sister of Kim Jong Un, recently issued a warning, threatening severe consequences for those responsible for the leaflet campaigns, describing them as “scum.”

Pyongyang has a history of reacting aggressively to propaganda efforts targeting its leadership. In 2020, it demolished a South Korean-built liaison office on its territory, and in 2014, it fired anti-aircraft rounds at balloons launched by activists. The ongoing tensions underscore the fragile and volatile nature of inter-Korean relations.