South Korea to suspend military agreement with North Korea over trash balloons

South Korea plans to suspend military ties with North Korea following the North’s recent operation to send balloons filled with garbage to its southern neighbor.

The country’s Council of Cabinet members on Tuesday approved a proposal to attach the entire 2018 agreement between the two countries, The Associated Press reported. reportIt will be officially suspended after the South Korean side sends a formal notice.

“The sole responsibility for this situation lies with North Korea,” South Korean Vice Minister for National Defense Policy Cho Chang-rae said, according to the Associated Press. “If North Korea engages in further provocative acts, our military, in coordination with the robust ROK-U.S. defense posture, will punish North Korea swiftly, forcefully and to the end.”

The expiration of the 2018 agreement, which required both sides to cease all aggressive actions on the border, comes after North Korea sent balloons filled with garbage and waste into South Korea last week, with the balloons containing a variety of rubbish, from paper to cigarette butts.

South Korea’s military said it found more than 700 balloons over the weekend, after tracking another 260 balloons early last week.

North Korea said on Sunday it would stop sending balloons after South Korea vowed to take “unbearable” action in response to Pyongyang’s military action.

North Korea’s Vice Defense Minister Kim Kang-i said North Korea was launching the balloons to counter allegations that South Korea was sending leaflets with messages critical of the country’s leadership.