PM denounces N. Korea’s launch of trash-carrying balloons as vile provocation

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo on Sunday denounced North Korea's launch of trash-carrying balloons to the South as a "depraved" provocation, saying that Seoul would calmly respond to the North's recent series of hostile moves. "North Korea has once again engaged in depraved provocations that are unacceptable to the international community," Han said in a meeting with government and ruling party officials at the National Assembly. "The government will deal with them calmly, focusing on securing national safety." Han's comments came as Pyongyang has sent some 720 more balloons carrying trash to South Korea since last week. The balloons, filled with cigarette butts, paper, plastic bags and other pieces of trash, have floated across the Military Demarcation Line separating the two Koreas and landed in various parts of South Korea, including Seoul, Gyeonggi Province, North Chungcheong Province and North Gyeongsang Province. The Korean military has warned of possible danger from the balloons, advising people not to touch the objects. North Korea has also staged GPS jamming attacks in waters near South Korea's northwestern border islands since Wednesday. During the government-party meeting, Sung Tae-yoon, director of national policy at the presidential office, said the government and the ruling party will cooperate closely to deal with any security threats. "North Korea's ballistic missile provocations, GPS jamming and trash balloons harm our people and threaten our security," he said. "The entire government and ruling party must work together to ensure that the people are not disturbed." Source: Yonhap News Agency