South Korea has decided to suspend a 2018 military agreement with North Korea and resume frontline military activities in response to rising tensions from North Korea’s recent balloon launches carrying trash, Associated Press reports.
North Korea had previously launched balloons carrying manure, cigarette butts and waste into South Korea, prompting Seoul to vow “unbearable” retaliation. South Korea’s deputy defense minister Cho Chang-rae emphasized that North Korea bears responsibility for the situation and warned of swift and strong military responses to further provocations. North Korea has since said it would stop the balloon campaign.
South Korea’s Prime Minister Han Duck-soo argued that the 2018 deal, which aimed to reduce frontline military tensions by stopping hostile acts like live fire drills and psychological warfare, has weakened South Korean military readiness amid North Korean threats, including the balloon campaign, nuclear-capable weapon tests, and GPS signal jamming.
