ROK Army’s 36th Infantry Division Conducts High-Intensity Drill to Counter North Korean Trash Balloon Threats

South Korea’s 36th Infantry Division has strengthened its capability to respond to indiscriminate threats from North Korea in coordination with related agencies.

On Monday, the division held a joint integrated defense exercise at the Gohan-Sabuk Sports Complex in Jeongseon County, simulating a fire caused by North Korean trash balloons. Around 100 personnel from the division’s Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) Special Task Force (CRST), the Taebaek and Jeongseon Battalions, Jeongseon County Office, Jeongseon Police Station, Jeongseon Fire Station, Jeongseon National Forest Management Office, and Korea Electric Power Corporation’s Taebaek branch participated in the exercise.

When an object resembling a North Korean trash balloon was observed falling above the sports complex, a resident reported it to the fire department. The division immediately dispatched a rapid response unit to secure the landing site and conduct a search operation. The Jeongseon Fire Station carried out fire suppression drills, the National Forest Management Office deployed wildfire-monitoring drones, the police restricted civilian access and conducted patrols, and Korea Electric Power assessed power supply stability. All procedures were executed swiftly to prepare for potential fires or large-scale wildfires.

During the joint military-police search, an unidentified object was discovered. Soldiers from the division’s CRST team assessed it for chemical or biological threats. The debris was found to be non-hazardous and was recovered. It was also determined that the risk of wildfires caused by debris was low, which concluded the training.

To solidify the integrated defense posture, the division thoroughly coordinated with all involved agencies in advance. They implemented safety measures to prevent accidents while moving personnel and equipment and used the Army Risk Assessment System (ARAS) to eliminate potential hazards in advance.

Lieutenant Colonel Kwak Sung Kwon, commander of the Taebaek and Jeongseon Battalions, stated, “This realistic training verified our civil-military-police-fire integrated defense capabilities,” and added, “We will continue high-intensity drills to maintain the ability and readiness to respond immediately to any provocation from the enemy.”