South Korea suspending military deal with North Korea

South Korea’s Prime Minster Han Duck-soo, second left, speaks during a cabinet meeting at the government complex in Seoul (Choi Jae-gu/Yonhap/AP)

South Korea’s government has approved the suspension of a contentious military agreement with North Korea, a step that would allow it to take tougher responses to North Korean provocations.

The development came as animosities between the rival neighbours rose sharply after North Korea launched trash-carrying balloons across the border in reaction to previous South Korean civilian leafletting campaigns.