Seoul completely suspends inter-Korean military pact over garbage balloons

“TRUTHS AND LOVE”

Seoul’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said the suspension would restore “all military activities” in areas near the inter-Korean border.

JCS spokesman Lee Sung-jun said mobile speakers could be ready for use “immediately,” while installing fixed units could take several days.

“Just because North Korea dumps garbage doesn’t mean we can do the same. That would be a criminal act,” he added.

Under the 2018 agreement, both countries agreed to “completely cease all hostile actions,” including the distribution of propaganda leaflets from the South.

South Korea’s parliament made it illegal to send leaflets to the North in 2020. The law, which did not deter activists, was repealed last year as a violation of freedom of expression.

Activist Park Sang-hak told AFP his group plans to distribute 5,000 USB sticks containing K-dramas and other music by Lim, as well as 200,000 leaflets, starting Thursday.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Park, a North Korean defector who is also behind the May 10 balloon launch, said his group sent millions of paracetamol and vitamin C tablets, 140,000 masks, as well as cash and USB sticks filled with potassium to the North.

“We sent facts and truths, love, medicine, one-dollar bills, dramas and harness racing music. But in return the North sent us dirt and garbage,” he said.