North Korean trash-filled balloon lands in S.Korean presidential compound
South Korean presidential office says balloon exploded in air, its debris scattered on presidential compound premises
ANKARA
South Korean authorities on Thursday claimed that a North Korean trash-filled balloon landed in the presidential compound in capital Seoul.
According to the presidential office, the balloon exploded in the air and its debris scattered on the presidential office premises, Seoul-based Yonhap News reported.
The Presidential Security Service said the trash posed no danger and had been safely collected.
In a tit-for-tat move, North Korea sent thousands of trash balloons since May 28 in response to balloons carrying anti-Pyongyang leaflets flown by North Korean defectors in South Korea.
Pyongyang has sent at least 6,303 trash balloons so far.
However, US-led UN Command in South Korea has found that Seoul's installation of speakers and broadcast of propaganda against North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has “encouraged” Pyongyang to launch more trash balloons.
The command also accused Seoul of violating the armistice on the Korean Peninsula by launching propaganda against Pyongyang from the Demilitarized Zone.
Tensions on the Korean Peninsula further grew after North Korea claimed that the South Korean military flew its unmanned drones over Pyongyang earlier this month and has warned of “physical force” if such actions were repeated.
Amid claims by Seoul that Pyongyang has transported around 3,000 soldiers to Russia, the South Korean troops and the US forces are also holding a joint 12-day long Freedom Flag exercise across different air bases in South Korea.
South Korean Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun called the alleged deployment of troops "cannon fodder mercenaries," accusing the North's leader Kim Jong-un of selling his army "for an illegal war of aggression."
The US on Wednesday backed Seoul's claims that at least 3,000 North Korean soldiers are in eastern Russia for training ahead of a possible deployment to the frontlines to join the Kremlin's war against Ukraine.
Pyongyang as well as Moscow have neither denied nor corroborated the claims made by Seoul and its key ally the US.
*Writing by Islamuddin Sajid
