U.S. Secret Service investigates the scene of a shooting near the White House [AP=Yonhap News]

On the 23rd (local time), a suspect who fired a gun towards the White House in the United States was shot and killed by responding Secret Service agents.

At the time of the incident, U.S. President Donald Trump was staying at the White House, and Secret Service (SS), FBI agents, and police officers have cordoned off the area and are investigating the circumstances of the incident.

In a statement regarding the incident posted on X (formerly Twitter) under the name of the Public Relations Officer, the SS stated, "Shortly after 6 p.m. (U.S. Eastern Time), at the intersection of 17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, an individual began firing a weapon after retrieving it from a bag."

It added, "An SS officer returned fire, striking the suspect, who was then transported to a nearby hospital and pronounced dead."

The SS also reported that one bystander was injured. It did not specify whether the bystander was hit by the shooter's gunfire or by the SS officers' return fire, nor did it disclose the bystander's condition.

Furthermore, the SS stated that no SS officers were injured and that President Trump, who was at the White House at the time of the incident, was unaffected.

Secret Service agents on alert on the White House roof [Reuters=Yonhap News]

The intersection where the incident occurred is directly adjacent to the Eisenhower Executive Office Building within the White House complex. It is only about 200 meters in a straight line from the main White House building.

A law enforcement official told Reuters that "the suspect approached a checkpoint near the White House and fired at the officers," suggesting that the incident occurred at a checkpoint next to the Eisenhower Executive Office Building.

The incident was immediately reported by U.S. media outlets.

CNN reported that its journalists heard gunshots near the White House, and reporters on the North Lawn of the White House at the time were urgently evacuated to the briefing room. The SS subsequently temporarily locked down the White House and instructed journalists outside the building to evacuate.

Journalists evacuating due to a shooting near the White House [EPA=Yonhap News]

A reporter for NewsNation said, "I heard 25 to 30 consecutive gunshots," adding, "SS agents evacuated reporters to the briefing room. They rushed us here (the briefing room) as quickly as possible, shouting, 'Active shooter! Get down!'"

Fox News reported that the shooter fired three shots at the White House, and SS agents returned fire, neutralizing the shooter.

FBI Director Kash Patel also posted on X shortly after the incident, stating, "The FBI is on the scene assisting the Secret Service in responding to a shooting incident near the White House. Additional information will be released as it becomes available."

Shootings have occurred frequently near the White House in recent times.

On the 4th, at an intersection southeast of the Washington Monument, not far from the White House, a suspect armed with a firearm fired at law enforcement officers, leading to a shootout where officers returned fire.

On the 25th of last month, at a security checkpoint near the venue of the White House Correspondents' Association dinner at the Washington Hilton Hotel, a suspect armed with a shotgun, pistol, and knife charged through the checkpoint, firing shots, and was apprehended by authorities shortly after passing through.

President Trump was in attendance at the dinner at the time but was safely evacuated.

On November 26th of last year, at an intersection just two blocks from the White House, an immigrant of Afghan nationality fired shots at two National Guard members on patrol in Washington D.C., resulting in one fatality and one serious injury.