North Korea released another propaganda balloon after three days. The debris was found in the northern part of Gyeonggi and Seoul, and even a propaganda balloon landed in the vicinity of the Blue House in Yongsan.
This is reporter Choi Jae-young’s report.
The Joint Chiefs of Staff announced that North Korea had launched a balloon this morning (24th) that is believed to contain garbage.
The wind direction is west, and the balloon is moving towards the northern Gyeonggi region and the metropolitan area.
Seoul announced through a safety alert message that North Korean propaganda balloons have been found in Seoul.
A propaganda balloon was also found in the vicinity of the Blue House in Yongsan.
The Joint Chiefs of Staff urged caution against falling objects and requested that if a fallen balloon is found, it should not be touched but reported to the nearest military unit or police.
This is the first propaganda balloon release by North Korea since the 21st after three days and the tenth since the first release on May 28.
Our military is responding to the propaganda balloons by fully operating the loudspeakers towards North Korea.
When North Korea sent down more than 200 propaganda balloons to the south on the 18th, we started partial loudspeaker broadcasts. After North Korea released the propaganda balloons again on the 21st, we announced full operation and have been broadcasting loudspeaker messages every day.
The loudspeaker broadcasts towards North Korea include news about Ri Il-gyu, the former North Korean ambassador to Cuba who defected to South Korea in November last year, as well as songs that evoke longing for South Korea and criticisms targeting North Korean soldiers who are planting mines near the border.
[North Korea Loudspeaker Broadcast: Recently, due to mine explosions at the 3rd Division and 2nd Division of the People’s Army, your precious comrades have lost their lives. Happiness is an escape.]
These broadcasts, containing such content, are being aired from 6 am using 24 fixed loudspeakers at all front lines.
The Joint Chiefs of Staff are also considering deploying mobile loudspeakers depending on North Korea’s additional provocations.
(Video coverage: Jo Chun-dong, Video editing: Hwang Ji-young)