NK weekly-inter-Korean news

Summary of inter-Korean news this week

SEOUL, June 21 (Yonhap) -- The following is a summary of inter-Korean news this week.

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(LEAD) N. Korean leader's sister hints at launching more trash-carrying balloons

SEOUL -- The influential sister of North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un hinted on Friday about launching more trash-carrying balloons into South Korea as she condemned "human scum" for sending what she described as "dirty wastepaper and things."

On Thursday night, a North Korean defectors' group sent 20 balloons carrying some 300,000 leaflets, U.S. dollars and USB sticks containing a hit K-drama and songs across the border in the border city of Paju -- the latest in a series of tit-for-tat leaflet campaigns between the two Koreas.

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(LEAD) N. Korean soldiers cross border for 3rd time in June on Thursday: JCS

SEOUL -- North Korean troops working in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) separating the two Koreas have briefly crossed the border into the South before returning to their side after the South fired warning shots, the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said Friday.

The North Korean soldiers crossed the Military Demarcation Line within the DMZ in the central section of the border at around 11 a.m. Thursday, the JCS said in a message to reporters.

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(2nd LD) Another cargo ship seized on suspicion of violating U.N. sanctions on N. Korea

BUSAN -- South Korea seized a 2,900-ton cargo ship near the Korea Strait on Thursday on suspicion of violating U.N. Security Council (UNSC) sanctions against North Korea, sources said.

The foreign-flagged freighter, reportedly carrying coal and iron ore with 10 crewmembers, was en route from Russia to China, presumably via North Korea, when it was seized.

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(LEAD) S. Korea voices regret over Russia-N.K. commitment to military technology cooperation

SEOUL -- South Korea voiced regret Thursday over a new agreement signed between Russia and North Korea committing the two countries to military technology cooperation in violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions.

The foreign ministry made the comment after Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un signed the "comprehensive strategic partnership" treaty after their summit talks in Pyongyang, which Kim hailed as an elevation of the bilateral relations to a new height.

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(2nd LD) N. Korean soldiers briefly cross border for 2nd time in less than 2 weeks

SEOUL -- North Korean soldiers working in the Demilitarized Zone separating the two Koreas briefly crossed into the South again Tuesday before returning to their side after the South fired warning shots, the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said.

It marked the North's second border violation in less than two weeks after a similar incident on June 9.

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Civic groups, border residents urge restrictions on activists' anti-Pyongyang leafleting

SEOUL -- Civic groups and border residents urged the government Monday to restrict activists from launching anti-Pyongyang propaganda leaflets into North Korea, citing concern it could provoke Pyongyang to send trash-carrying balloons into South Korea again.

The plea came as officials of the People's Solidarity for Participatory Democracy (PSPD), a major civic group, border residents and opposition lawmakers held a discussion at the National Assembly to explore ways to reduce inter-Korean tensions.

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