South Korea Starts Taking Down Border Loudspeakers
(MENAFN) South Korea has started taking down loudspeakers installed along its border with North Korea, according to a report from a local media outlet on Monday citing the nation’s Defense Ministry. This move follows a recent agreement between both Koreas to suspend propaganda broadcasts, part of a broader initiative aimed at reducing tensions on the divided peninsula.
The removal of these devices marks a significant diplomatic pivot under South Korea’s new president, Lee Jae-myung, who has expressed a clear intent to ease hostilities with Pyongyang. Despite these hopeful developments, the two Koreas technically remain in a state of war, as the armistice signed in 1953 has never been replaced by a formal peace treaty.
The ministry described the action as, “It is a practical measure that can help ease inter-Korean tensions without affecting the military’s readiness posture.”
These large loudspeaker systems, installed by Seoul decades ago, have historically broadcast K-pop tunes, news updates, and anti-regime messages across the Demilitarized Zone. North Korea typically retaliated with its own broadcasts or sent propaganda balloons and bags of refuse into the South, which sparked protests from Seoul.
Relations between the two Koreas sharply worsened during the previous South Korean administration. In July 2024, after a six-year hiatus, Seoul resumed its loudspeaker broadcasts in response to North Korea launching trash-laden balloons into South Korean territory. The heightened friction was fueled in part by North Korean outrage over leaflets sent by defectors residing in South Korea.
While tensions escalated, South Korea continued to strengthen its defense capabilities by carrying out joint military exercises with the United States. Pyongyang condemned these drills as invasion rehearsals and reacted with multiple missile tests.
Although diplomatic overtures have resurfaced, South Korea maintains a cautious defensive stance toward the North. Just last week, South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun and his US counterpart, Marco Rubio, reaffirmed their dedication to North Korea’s denuclearization, underscoring the ongoing importance of dialogue for regional stability.
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