Defense minister denounces N. Korea's launch of manure-carrying balloons as 'shameful', 'base'

SINGAPORE, June 1 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's Defense Minister Shin Won-sik on Saturday denounced the North's recent launch of balloons carrying trash and manure into the South as a "shameful" and "base" act.

Shin made the remark during his speech at the 21st Shangri-La Dialogue, which commenced the previous day in Singapore, bringing together senior security officials from some 40 countries.

Earlier this week, North Korea launched hundreds of large balloons carrying trash and manure into South Korea, some of which landed in central Seoul and went as far south as the southeastern county of Geochang, 218 kilometers south of Seoul.

"This is an act that is unimaginably shameful and base for a normal country … an act against humanity and a clear and grave violation of the Armistice Agreement," Shin said.

"I strongly denounce this act and urge an immediate halt," the minister said.

Referring to North Korea's recent satellite launch, Shin said, "North Korea launched a rocket using ballistic missile technologies prohibited under U.N. Security Council resolutions, claiming it was a reconnaissance satellite."

He underlined that North Korea's reckless nuclear and missile development poses a substantial threat to all nations participating in the conference and constitutes a direct challenge to the peace of the Indo-Pacific region and the world.

Shin also lambasted Russia for its arms imports from North Korea and called for an immediate halt in such arms transfers, saying that financial rewards from the dealings would fund Pyongyang's military buildup.

pbr@yna.co.kr
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