Seoul City Collects 58 North Korean Waste Balloons... Emergency Response Team Activated

As North Korea once again released filth balloons toward South Korea, filth balloons were also found in various parts of downtown Seoul on the 9th. The Seoul Metropolitan Government immediately activated an emergency response team to collect the balloons and inspected for any damage or abnormalities.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

According to Seoul City, a total of 58 filth balloon remnants were found in Seoul from the first discovery at 11:49 PM the previous day until 5 PM on the same day. They were found in various areas including Gangbuk, Gangnam, the southwestern region, and the northeastern region.

Eight cases were found each in Eunpyeong, Jungnang, Dongdaemun, and Seongbuk districts; seven cases in Seodaemun district; six cases each in Jongno and Nowon districts; two cases in Jung district; and one case each in Yongsan, Gwangjin, Yangcheon, Yeongdeungpo, and Gangnam districts.

It was confirmed that the balloons contained pieces of paper and other debris inside.

The city collected the balloon remnants in cooperation with the military Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team, the Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) Rapid Response Team (CRST), and police security investigation authorities.

After the military announced the movement of the balloons toward the South on the previous night, Seoul City sent a safety alert message to citizens at around 11:09 PM, stating, "North Korea is again releasing filth balloons toward the South," urging caution regarding falling cargo and advising people not to approach the balloons but to report them to military units or the police, actively responding to the situation.

Employees of the relevant departments of Seoul City continued to work for the second day in a row to monitor the collection status and check for any damage or abnormalities.