South Korea has announced the suspension of a rapprochement deal with North Korea following the North’s provocative launches of trash-carrying balloons. Despite the North’s sudden decision to halt its balloon campaign, South Korea remains steadfast in its response.
The suspension of the 2018 inter-Korean agreement aims to restore mutual trust between the two Koreas. South Korea’s national security council cited the need to resume military drills near the border and take immediate action against North Korea’s provocations.
The escalating tensions were triggered by North Korea’s recent balloon campaign, which included dropping trash and manure on South Korean territory. The move was seen as a retaliatory measure against previous civilian leafleting campaigns from South Korea.
Experts believe that North Korea’s balloon campaign is a strategic attempt to create division within South Korea and undermine the current conservative government’s policies. This latest development underscores the ongoing challenges in inter-Korean relations and the precarious nature of diplomatic efforts between the two countries.