Police Investigation Launched After Discovering North Korean Balloons
After North Korean balloons were consecutively found in the Incheon Ganghwa and Gyeonggi Gimpo regions, police have launched an investigation on suspicion of violating the Aviation Safety Act.
On the 14th, the National Police Agency reported that after the first report was received at 12:30 AM from Ganghwa, similar North Korean balloons were found around 8 AM in Yangsa-myeon, Ganghwa-gun, and around 9:30 AM in Gimpo, Gyeonggi.
The National Police Agency emphasized that they plan to investigate the North Korean balloons, presumed to have been released by a civilian organization, for violations of the Aviation Safety Act. "We will also thoroughly investigate any violations of other laws," they stressed.
The discovered balloons contained biblical brochures and snacks, but did not include any pamphlets criticizing the North Korean regime.
The National Police Agency stated, "We are currently designating areas expected for balloon releases, primarily focusing on major border areas, and have deployed task forces and local police to carry out preemptive measures against the distribution of North Korean leaflets," expressing a strong willingness to collaborate with local governments and relevant agencies.
Meanwhile, President Lee Jae-myung directed, regarding the leaflet distribution incident in Ganghwa-do, that "preventive measures and post-penalty policies should be established."
Earlier, on the 10th, during a Cabinet meeting, President Lee also instructed related ministries to review any violations of relevant laws, including the Aviation Safety Act, Disaster and Safety Act, and High-Pressure Gas Safety Management Act, and to establish specific response measures that include penalties.
In a border area discussion on the 13th, President Lee emphasized, "The Ministry of Unification requested the cessation of illegal North Korean leaflet distribution, and if this continues in violation of that request, there must be punishment."
Kang Yu-jung, spokesperson for the president's office, stated in a written briefing on the 14th, "It has been confirmed that this morning a civilian group distributed leaflets toward North Korea from Imjingak Peace Land behind the fence in Paju, Gyeonggi-do," and added, "The Lee Jae-myung government has made it clear that illegal distribution of North Korean leaflets, which threatens the daily lives and safety of residents in border areas and escalates military tension on the Korean Peninsula, must be stopped."
Image source: On April 27, a meeting of families of abductees confirmed that they sent eight North Korean leaflets toward the North from behind the fence at Imjingak Peace Land in Munshan-eup, Paju, Gyeonggi-do, that morning / News1, President Lee Jae-myung / News1
