South Korea Will Continue Military Activities Along The Demarcation Line

The demilitarized zone (DMZ) between North Korea and South Korea. (Wikimedia Commons/Johannes Barre)

JAKARTA - The South Korean military on Tuesday said it would continue all military activities along the demarcation line separating the two Koreas and the Northwest Islands, after suspending the inter-Korean military agreement.

The suspension of a military agreement with North Korea, approved by President Yoon Suk-yeol earlier on Tuesday, was a response to North Korea's decision to send hundreds of balloons carrying garbage across the border.

"The South Korean military insists that they will take all necessary measures to protect the lives and safety of its people in response to North Korea's provocation," an Defense Ministry official said in an emergency briefing.

Large-scale balloon shipments have "threatened the safety of our people and caused property damage", the official added.

Under the previously agreed military pact, the two countries agreed to "fully stop all acts of hostility against each other" which are a source of tension and military conflict, through measures such as the two sides ending military exercises near the border.

It was the most substantive deal emerging from a historic summit for months between the two Koreas in 2018, but was scrapped when Pyongyang declared no longer bound last year.

Since then, North Korea has deployed troops and weapons at the guard post near the military border.

Earlier, North Korea on Sunday said it had sent 15 tonnes of used paper using 3,500 balloons. That made the Land of Ginseng vowed to take "untolerant" actions against North Korea in response, which could include strong propaganda from loudspeakers directed at North Korea.