Against the backdrop of increased tensions on the Korean Peninsula, the government of South Korea has suspended a military agreement with North Korea. This paves the way for the resumption of all military activities on the heavily fortified border.
South Korea recently warned North Korea of tough countermeasures after the isolated neighbor sent rows of balloons filled with trash across the border. It was said that on Sunday evening alone, about 600 balloons filled with garbage bags flew into South Korea.
The balloons, containing garbage bags full of cigarette butts, clothing, paper waste and plastic, were found scattered across the capital Seoul in the morning, South Korea’s chief of staff said. The military monitors the exit point and conducts aerial reconnaissance to locate and retrieve the balloons.
The army is “normalizing” activities at the border
All activities of its own forces along the military demarcation line and in the northwestern islands, which were restricted by the 2018 military agreement, will return to normal, South Korean Vice Defense Minister Cho Chang-rae said in Seoul on Tuesday . The Cabinet and President Yoon Suk-yeol had previously approved a proposal to temporarily suspend the agreement.
In addition to the waste balloons, the South Korean military also accused its neighbor of attempting to disrupt the GPS satellite navigation system in the border area. With the balloon campaigns, North Korea said it was responding to the frequent sending of propaganda leaflets across the border by South Korean organizations. On Sunday, North Korea announced its intention to halt the actions for the time being.
South Korea is still keeping a low profile
Vice Defense Minister Cho did not provide details on planned military activities at the border. However, by suspending the agreement, which North Korea declared over months ago, South Korea can once again hold military exercises targeting its neighbor near the border and, in theory, also resume propaganda broadcasts. The agreement also provided for no-fly zones in the border area. In addition, naval maneuvers are no longer allowed in a buffer zone in the Yellow Sea.
In September 2018, both sides agreed on a series of measures to prevent incidents at the border. However, South Korea had already suspended parts of the agreement in November due to North Korea’s launch of a spy satellite. North Korea then announced that it no longer wished to adhere to the entire agreement.
Source: Krone
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