South Korea’s government has approved suspending an agreement with North Korea on détente measures, clearing the way for resuming all military activities along the heavily fortified border between the two countries.

Deputy defence minister Cho Chang Rae said that all activities of its armed forces along the military demarcation line and on the north-western islands, which were restricted by the 2018 military agreement, would resume in Seoul on Tuesday.

The cabinet and President Yoon Suk Yeol approved a temporary motion to lift the agreement.

In September 2018, the two sides agreed to a series of measures as part of a temporary rapprochement to avoid incidents along the heavily defended border.

There have been increasing tensions on the Korean peninsula over the past few months.

South Korea recently warned North Korea of harsh counter-measures after balloons carrying refuse were sent over the border.

South Korea’s military also accused its neighbour of jamming the GPS satellite navigation system in the border region.

Pyongyang described its balloons as a response to propaganda flyers sent over the border by South Korean organisations.

It said on Sunday that it planned to halt the balloon campaign temporarily.

The 2018 agreement provided for no-fly zones in the border area and a ban on naval manoeuvres in a buffer zone in the Yellow Sea.

South Korea suspended parts of the agreement in November due to the launch of a spy satellite by North Korea.

Pyongyang then announced that it would no longer honour any parts of the agreement.

Mr Cho did not give any details about planned military activities on the border.

However, the suspension of the agreement means that South Korea can, again, hold military exercises close to the border line.

(dpa/NAN)