Balloon carrying trash explodes over South Korean Presidential Palace

"A North Korean balloon carrying trash exploded in the air early this morning, causing debris to fall on the Yongsan government complex," South Korea's Presidential Security Service (PSS) said, referring to the complex that includes the country's presidential palace.

South Korean authorities have collected and inspected the fallen objects, confirming that they pose no danger or environmental pollution, but have not disclosed specifics about the type of debris. The PSS is coordinating with the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff to monitor the situation.

Sheet South Korea's Chosun Daily said the balloon carried leaflets criticizing President Yoon Suk-yeol and his wife Kim Keon-hee. The South Korean military declined to confirm the report.

The North Korean government has not commented on the incident.

The Presidential Palace of South Korea is located in Yongsan District in central Seoul, part of a complex of buildings such as the Ministry of National Defense and government agencies, and nearby is the headquarters of the US Forces Korea.

South Korea has established a no-fly zone and deployed a large number of troops and equipment to protect the area. However, the incident on the morning of October 24 was the second time that balloons containing trash appeared above the South Korean Presidential Palace, after the first time in July.

North Korea began launching balloons filled with trash southward in May, in response to similar actions by South Korean activists.

Balloons from South Korea often carry leaflets, cash, USB sticks containing K-pop music and Korean dramas.

The incident came days after Kim Yo-jong, the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, accused the South Korean military of deploying unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to drop leaflets in the capital Pyongyang.

"South Korea will have to experience firsthand how dangerous their actions were and what terrible and dire consequences they will have to endure," she said.