SEOUL: South Korea will completely suspend a 2018 tension-reducing military agreement with nuclear-armed North Korea, the South’s National Security Council stated on Monday, following North Korea sent hundreds of trash-filled balloons across the border.
South Korea partially suspended the deal last year following the North Korea put a spy satellite into orbit, but the NSC stated it would tell the cabinet “to suspend the entire effect of the ‘September 19 Military Agreement’ until mutual trust between the two sides is restored.”
The presidential office said in a press statement on Monday that the National Security Council (NSC) has suggested the suspension of the entirety of the Comprehensive Military Agreement (CMA) and will discuss the suggestion at a cabinet meeting on Tuesday.
The statement said, “This will permit military drills along the Military Demarcation Line … and enable us to take additional sufficient and immediate steps against North Korea’s provocations to secure the lives and safety of our people.”
South Korea’s announcement comes following North Korea sent about 1,000 balloons containing waste in anger over South Korea. It follows North Korea’s failed satellite launch and salvo launch of 18 rockets last week.
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Alleging Pyongyang of causing “substantial damage and threats” to South Koreans with its recent “provocations,” the NSC said that the 2018 inter-Korean deal has presented main hurdles for ROK military preparedness against North Korean threats until now.
