By Dareh Gregorian, Courtney Kube and Mosheh Gains -
NBC News
The Pentagon reported this Friday night that it detected a second "spy" balloon from China, this time over Latin America.
The report comes less than 24 hours after the detection of a similar device that has been hovering over US airspace for days.
Pentagon press secretary General Pat Ryder said the Defense Department was aware of reports of another balloon “transiting through Latin America.
We now assess that it is another Chinese surveillance balloon.”
The US authorities did not specify where in Latin America the artifact was located, but
ruled out that it was headed for the United States.
The Pentagon explained that it does not plan to shoot down the balloon that is in US airspace, because "any potential debris would be significant" and could cause "injuries, civilian deaths or significant property damage."
However, the Pentagon has not said what its plan is to respond to what it described as a "slow-stepping violation of airspace and international law."
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Chinese "surveillance" balloon sighted over Billings, Montana, on February 1, 2023. Chase Doak / AFP - Getty Images
The huge balloon has sparked public curiosity, but also an international diplomatic crisis.
Its appearance over US air territory has many in the Midwest looking to the skies, hoping to catch a glimpse of the massive white hovering craft.
It is unknown where it will go
and if the Army will ultimately choose to shoot it down with ground or air, but authorities have confirmed that it continues to move east across the continental United States.
The authorities have also received with suspicion the response from China, which has stated that it is
an accidentally diverted weather balloon.
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The balloon was seen Wednesday over Billings, Montana, and had previously flown over the Aleutian Islands of Alaska and Canada to get there, authorities said.
The balloon's fate is curious, as Montana is home to one of the United States' three nuclear missile camps.
Military leaders discuss whether the alleged Chinese spy balloon poses a threat to the US.
Feb 3, 202302:23
The Chinese Government has recognized that the globe belongs to their country.
"It is a civil aircraft for research purposes, mainly for meteorological purposes," the Chinese Foreign Ministry said on its website.
He added that the balloon had "deviated greatly from its planned route" due to strong winds and his inability to steer.
But General Ryder of the Pentagon said: "The fact is that we know it's a surveillance balloon."
"She has the ability to maneuver," he added.
Ryder declined to say where the balloons detected over the United States and Latin America were on Friday night.