Koo Byoung-sam, spokesperson at the unification ministry, speaks about the government's stance on North Korea's latest provocative acts, May 31. Yonhap

The unification ministry warned Friday that "unendurably" painful measures would be taken against North Korea if it continues to stage "irrational" provocative acts, such as this week's sending of balloons carrying trash to South Korea.

Earlier this week, North Korea flew hundreds of large balloons carrying trash and manure into South Korea and staged GPS jamming attacks in waters near South Korea's northwestern border islands for a third straight day until Friday. The country also fired a salvo of short-range ballistic missiles Thursday.

The ministry in charge of inter-Korean affairs voiced "strong" regret over North Korea's "senseless and irrational" provocative acts.

"The government is taking the North's latest provocations very seriously. We will not tolerate such moves," the ministry said.

"If North Korea does not stop its provocative acts, the government will take all measures that North Korea cannot endure. We sternly warn that all responsibility for what will take place afterwards will totally rest on North Korea," it noted. (Yonhap)