On the 14th, a North Korean balloon suspected to be launched by a private organization was discovered in Ganghwa County, Incheon and Gimpo City, Gyeonggi Province. The police plan to conduct a strict investigation.
According to the police on the 15th, a report about a "large balloon falling" was received around 12:40 a.m. the previous day in Hajung-myeon, Ganghwa County. On the same day around 8:10 a.m., another similar report was received in Yangsa-myeon, Ganghwa County, and around 9:27 a.m. in Haseong-myeon, Gimpo City.
The police who were dispatched to the scene collected remnants of the large balloon, North Korean leaflets, USBs, and snacks. There were Bible booklets, but no pamphlets criticizing the North Korean regime. The police determined that a private organization had sent balloons north, but they had fallen into the Ganghwa and Gimpo border area due to the wind.
In this regard, the Korean National Police Agency said, "All discovered North Korean balloons are scheduled for investigation on suspicion of violating the Aviation Safety Act," adding, "We will also thoroughly investigate any violations of other related laws."
"We are currently selecting expected propagation areas, focusing on major border regions, and deploying task forces and local police to implement prior preventive actions related to the dissemination of North Korean leaflets," the agency stated, adding, "We also plan to actively collaborate with local governments and relevant organizations."
President Lee Jae-myung directed all relevant departments to establish preventive and post-punishment measures regarding the dissemination of North Korean leaflets. The government plans to hold a comprehensive meeting led by the Ministry of Unification on the 16th to discuss overall measures.
Senior Presidential Spokesperson Kang Yu-jung noted, "The Lee Jae-myung government has stated that illegal dissemination of North Korean leaflets, which threatens the daily lives and safety of residents in border areas and could escalate military tensions on the Korean Peninsula, must be halted," adding, "The government is acutely aware of the situation despite having made our position clear, regarding the violation of this measure."