The South Korean government has decided to respond actively to North Korea’s continuous provocations of trash balloon launches and disruption of Global Positioning System (GPS) signals. The country plans to take measures North Korea will find difficult to handle, including the resumption of loudspeaker broadcasts.
After chairing the National Security Council (NSC) standing committee meeting on June 2 in response to North Korea’s trash balloon attacks, Director of the South Korean National Security Office Jang Ho Jin, stated in a briefing, “Following today’s meeting, we will begin implementing measures that North Korea will find difficult to handle.”
Jang evaluated the situation, saying, “The trash balloon dispersion and GPS disruption are absurd and irrational provocations that are unimaginable for a normal state to do.” He added, “The North Korean regime aims to create anxiety and confusion by imposing actual threats to our citizens through these provocations.” He warned, “We once again warn North Korea to suspend provocations like the trash balloon dispersion and GPS disruption. If such actions are repeated, our response will become increasingly severe.”
When asked about the meaning of “measures difficult for North Korea to handle,” a senior official from the presidential office explained, “We will not exclude the possibility of resuming loudspeaker broadcasts against North Korea, and we will certainly take the necessary steps to do so.”
He further added, “The concrete measures will be seen very soon. We believe these measures will likely affect North Korea.”
Regarding the timing of implementing these difficult measures, he emphasized, “We will not hesitate any longer and will implement them immediately.” He also asserted, “We have clearly warned North Korea and given them time, but they responded immediately after our warning. We also will not delay and will proceed with the necessary measures.”
Accordingly, it is expected that the government will soon begin the process of suspending the effectiveness of the 9/19 Comprehensive Military Agreement, which is necessary for resuming loudspeaker broadcasts against North Korea. The government had previously warned North Korea through the Ministry of Unification on May 31 that “if the provocations do not stop, South Korea will take all measures difficult to endure.”
In regards to shooting down North Korea’s trash balloons in the air, the senior official said, “Exploding them in the air would cause the trash to disperse, which could expand the affected area and result in a more complicated cleanup. After thorough consideration, we determined that it is safer to collect them after they fall.”
Regarding the reason why North Korea is carrying out provocations like trash balloon launches, he said, “It seems they intend to make our citizens uncomfortable and change our policy towards North Korea.” He emphasized, “Such dirty threats will not work with our government.”