Seoul to suspend 2018 inter-Korean tension reduction pact with Pyongyang

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

ISTANBUL (AA) - South Korea on Monday decided to suspend the inter-Korean tension reduction pact signed with North Korea in 2018.

The decision was taken by the National Security Council which said the pact will remain suspended “until trust is restored” between the two Koreas, the Seoul-based Yonhap News Agency reported.

Last November, North Korea ended a five-year-old military pact with South Korea. The deal aimed at lowering military tensions and the decision by Pyongyang came amid heightening military activities on the Korean Peninsula where the US has closed ranks with Seoul and Japan.

In February this year, the North Korean parliament voted to end all economic cooperation agreements with South Korea.

Seoul’s move to suspend the 2018 inter-Korean tension reduction pact came after Pyongyang airdropped balloons of trash into South Korea, drawing condemnation from Seoul.

Pyongyang confirmed sending around 3,500 balloons from last Tuesday until Sunday.Seoul said it detected around 1,000 such balloons which caused some damage to properties.

The balloons carried 15 tons worth of debris, according to North Korean Vice Defense Minister Kim Kang-il.

Kim said Pyongyang will halt airdropping trash if South Korea stops sending anti-Pyongyang leaflets into North Korea.