North Korea ups the ante, trash-carrying balloons hit South Korean presidential compound

North Korea on Wednesday (July 24) escalated its propaganda war by sending trash-carrying balloons that struck a high-profile target: the South Korean presidential compound.

Citing security officials, AFP reports that this incident prompted a swift response from Seoul, which mobilised chemical response teams.

Direct hit on the presidential compound

This marks the first instance where the South Korean leader's office in downtown Seoul, a highly secured area protected by numerous soldiers and a no-fly zone, was directly impacted by the thousands of trash-carrying balloons launched by Pyongyang since May.

"The chemical, biological, and radiological (warfare) response team has safely collected the trash balloons," the presidential security service confirmed to AFP.

After investigation, results have confirmed that there was no danger or contamination of the object."

This comes as South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff previously confirmed the launch of these balloons by the North. Now, Seoul authorities on Wednesday have issued a warning to the city's citizens, urging them to avoid touching any fallen balloons and to report them.

"If you find any fallen balloons, do not touch them, and report them to the nearest military unit or police station."

Why is North Korea sending trash balloons to South Korea?

This incident marks the tenth occurrence this year of North Korea sending trash-carrying balloons across the border.

The nation claims this is a retaliation for South Korean activists frequently launching balloons carrying anti-regime propaganda leaflets and money across the border into North Korea. These campaigns have long infuriated Pyongyang, which possibly fears that outside information could destabilise the tightly controlled society and threaten the Kim Jong-un regime.

In May, North Korea threatened to take similar action. Kim Kang Il, a vice-minister of defence, on May 26 warned that "Tit-for-tat action will be taken against frequent scattering of leaflets and other rubbish by the ROK near border areas." Here, ROK refers to the Republic of Korea, the South's official name.

"Mounds of wastepaper and filth will soon be scattered over the border areas and the interior of the ROK and it will directly experience how much effort is required to remove them," Kimreiterated in a statement carried by the official Korean Central News Agency.

Even though the 1950-53 Korean War ended in an armistice, the two Koreas remain technically at war, separated by a heavily fortified border.

(With inputs from agencies)