"Fire Caused by Heating Timer, Not Detonator"
Amid suspicions that a fire was caused by waste balloons carrying trash sent by North Korea, military authorities have stated that they are devising preventive measures. While some have suggested the possibility of an accident caused by a detonator, the military is analyzing the fire as likely caused by a 'heat timer.'
A Joint Chiefs of Staff official stated on the 10th, "We believe that the heat timer attached to the North Korean balloon may have caused a fire during the process of activating the heating wire that separates the balloon from its cargo."
An object presumed to be a timer for a North Korean sewage balloon found at the factory fire site in Gochon-eup, Gimpo-si, Gyeonggi Province. [Image source=Yonhap News]
According to the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the cargo, including trash, is contained in a plastic bag hanging from the lower part of the balloon, and a heat timer designed to burn the plastic bag and drop the cargo is attached to the bag. This timer is a device set to apply heat to the plastic bag after a certain period and is a different concept from a detonator.
The heat timer is intended to burn the plastic bag while in the air, but if it operates after descending to the ground, it could ignite the trash, according to the military's assessment. A Joint Chiefs of Staff official explained, "There is no confirmation yet that there are flammable materials involved," and added, "So far, there is no evidence of explosives."
The military authorities understand that North Korea does not intend to cause fires with the waste balloons. However, there are calls to strengthen responses regardless of intent.
A military official said, "The exact cause of the fire is currently under investigation by relevant agencies," and added, "The military and police are cooperating to devise necessary preventive measures to minimize damage."
Meanwhile, the morning before, objects presumed to be devices and debris attached to North Korean waste balloons were found on the roof of a factory in Gimpo City, Gyeonggi Province. This factory experienced a fire on the 5th, and the firefighting authorities discovered these objects during the investigation into the cause of the fire. In addition, fires suspected to have been caused by devices attached to waste balloons occurred in multi-family housing areas in Goyang City, Gyeonggi Province, and in the hills of Paju City.
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