A trash balloon sent by North Korea flies over Seoul, Monday. Yonhap

Defense companies, academia, and research institutions are collaborating to develop unmanned aerial collection drones designed to intercept and retrieve North Korean trash balloons mid-air, according to officials from the defense industry, Wednesday.

The North Korean balloons, which may carry biological or chemical weapons, will be detected and safely disposed of by the drones. Once commercialized, these drones could patrol the skies in response to the increasing number of balloons from North Korea.

Domestic industries, academic institutions, and research organizations are expected to submit a policy proposal for this project to the government next month.

Led by Jeonbuk National University's Defense Research Institute, the collaboration includes the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, UAM Tech, Hanseo University, the Korea Military Academy, and virus research firm BioLT, among others.

Kang Eun-ho, head of the Defense Research Institute at Jeonbuk National University and former chief of the Defense Acquisition Program Administration, said, "We plan to propose the project to the National Defense Committee of the National Assembly next month, emphasizing the need to analyze the security threats posed by North Korean trash balloons and establish a swift response system."

According to the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, North Korea has sent over 5,500 trash balloons toward South Korea between May and September of this year. These balloons triggered 22 alerts in the South, and some were equipped with incendiary devices, causing fires in various areas of the capital region.

The South Korean military has been hesitant to intercept the balloons midair due to concerns over the potential fallout of hazardous materials.

However, the possibility of North Korea using these balloons to transport radioactive substances or pathogens like cholera has led to growing alarm.

The proposed drones will include two types: multi-copters, which can hover steadily to detect and collect the balloons, and vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) drones, which will be deployed in areas where the balloons have already caused damage.

Military personnel collect debris, believed to be from a North Korean trash balloon, near the parking lot of the Government Complex in Jongno District, Seoul, Sept. 20. Yonhap

The multi-copters will be equipped with high-sensitivity radiation detectors, sample collection equipment, robotic arms, and missile-like capture devices. Each drone is expected to operate for at least three hours per sortie.

One drone will be assigned to capture a single balloon to ensure efficient collection. Once captured, the balloons will be transported to nearby facilities for detailed analysis and disposal.

The research and development process is expected to take three years, with an estimated annual budget of 10 billion won.

However, there are concerns about the effectiveness of a solution that will only be ready years later, given the immediate threat posed by the balloons.

The research team explained that advanced technology is required to build drones capable of operating in harsh weather conditions while carrying heavy equipment, and that a specialized testing site needs to be constructed for trials.

Once the technology is commercialized, the plan is to deploy drones as a first line of defense along the border, with a control and training base set up at sites like the Saemangeum reclamation area.

Kang emphasized the importance of securing rapid funding through national emergency response projects and suggested that the equipment and platforms developed could potentially be exported to other countries facing similar threats.

This article from the Hankook Ilbo, a sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.