North Korean Filth Balloons Landed in Over 700 Locations Nationwide

Assemblyman Yang Bu-nam "Estimated Over 1,600 Distributed... Widespread Outside Seoul Metropolitan Area and Gangwon"

North Korea's recent consecutive launches of filth balloons toward South Korea, citing the issue of anti-North leaflets, have been found to have landed in more than 700 locations nationwide.

According to data on the 'Status of North Korea's Distribution of Anti-South Leaflets' submitted by the National Police Agency to Yang Bu-nam, a member of the National Assembly's Public Administration and Security Committee (Democratic Party of Korea, Gwangju Seo-gu Eul), from May 28 to June 10, a total of 778 locations nationwide were found where filth balloons launched by North Korea in four rounds were discovered.

By period, balloons were found at 78 locations during the 1st round (May 28?29), 354 locations during the 2nd round (June 1?2), and 346 locations during the 3rd and 4th rounds (June 8?10).

By region, balloons fell in Seoul, Gyeonggi, Incheon, and Gangwon during all four rounds.

Additionally, balloons were sighted in ▲ 1st round: Chungcheong, Muju in Jeonbuk, Yeongcheon and Gyeongju in Gyeongbuk, Geochang in Gyeongnam ▲ 2nd round: Chungcheong, Pohang in Gyeongbuk ▲ 3rd and 4th rounds: Chungju, Eumseong, and Yeongdong in Chungbuk.

The total number of filth balloons launched by North Korea during this period is estimated to exceed 1,600, causing damage to vehicles, houses, commercial buildings, and vinyl greenhouses.

The police are responsible for immediate dispatch upon receiving 112 emergency calls related to filth balloons, preserving the scene, and taking initial measures. Subsequently, the military collects the balloons or their debris, and related agencies conduct detailed analyses.

Except for this year, the periods in the last 10 years when North Korea launched balloons (leaflets) toward South Korea were from 2016 to 2018.

Balloons were found in the metropolitan area, Gangwon, Chungcheong, and Gyeongbuk from January to May, July, and October in 2016; in Seoul in February 2017; and mainly in the metropolitan area in January and March 2018.

Compared to the past, this year saw a large number of balloons distributed intensively over a short period, and the affected areas have become more widespread, according to analyses.

Assemblyman Yang Bu-nam said, “If the vicious cycle of distributing anti-North leaflets and North Korea’s filth balloons continues unchecked, the lives and safety of the people will be put at greater risk,” and added, “The government should consider more proactive administrative measures against leaflet distribution.”

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