Oh Se-hoon: "We will shorten response time to North Korea's waste balloons"

"Closely Communicating with Military and Police"

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon stated regarding North Korea's release of filth balloons, "We will devise measures to further reduce response time through integrated personnel operations such as explosive ordnance disposal and chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) response."

Mayor Oh attended the 'Seoul City Integrated Defense Meeting on North Korean Filth Balloons' held on the afternoon of the 10th at the Chungmu Confidential Room on the third basement floor of Seoul City Hall as the chairperson.

Mayor Oh urged swift response, noting that although filth balloons are usually dealt with within 1 to 2 hours, if related agencies respond immediately after they fall, citizens' anxiety can be alleviated. It was reported that it typically takes about 1 hour and 20 minutes to 2 hours from discovery to action for each filth balloon.

In his opening remarks, he said, "The despicable provocation of filth balloons by North Korea has now reached the front yard of City Hall, causing citizens to feel both discomfort and anxiety," adding, "The city is taking measures to ensure citizen safety through close communication with the military and police, including convening the initial response team and holding trilateral coordination meetings with the Capital Defense Command and Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

He continued, "This situation is not the end but could become a new form of provocation by North Korea," emphasizing, "At the city level, we will find practical measures to secure citizen safety and reduce citizens' discomfort and anxiety and respond accordingly."

The meeting was convened to discuss response measures following the resumption of North Korea's filth balloon releases since the previous night.

The meeting, held simultaneously online and offline, was attended by more than 30 participants, including Lee Jin-woo, Commander of the Capital Defense Command (attending via video), members of the Seoul City Integrated Defense Council such as the National Intelligence Service, Seoul Fire & Disaster Headquarters, Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, and related agency officials.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.