North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's sister, Kim Yo Jong, strongly rebutted reports from South Korea claiming that some loudspeakers had been dismantled. In a statement released by the state-run KCNA, she declared, “We have never removed the speakers and are not willing to remove them.” This development comes on the heels of South Korea’s military announcement regarding the removal of its own loudspeakers, which had been utilized for broadcasting a mix of both K-pop tunes and propaganda messages towards the North.
Kim further emphasized Pyongyang's refusal to engage in dialogue with South Korea, stating that their current stance against improving relations would be codified into the North’s constitution in the future. The ongoing loudspeaker broadcasts are seen as a contentious issue, with both countries using them as tools for propaganda and psychological warfare, which North Korea has previously described as provocative acts.
Residents living along the border have expressed frustration over the relentless noise pollution from both sides, which sometimes extends into the night hours. Historically, North Korea has taken a hostile view of South Korean broadcasts, viewing them as an act of war.
This situation escalated recently when South Korea resumed its speaker broadcasts in June 2024, breaking a six-year hiatus, as part of a tougher approach taken by the then-impeached president Yoon Suk Yeol. Following these tensions, North Korea retaliated by sending balloons filled with waste across the border.
With South Korea opting to halt its broadcasts shortly after newly elected President Lee Jae Myung took office, there were hopes for improving inter-Korean relations. Lee, who ran on a platform focusing on thawing ties, faced the challenge of maintaining stability in a region still fraught with hostility. Despite attempts to ease tensions, both nations remain on edge, with North Korea recently cautioning against any military provocations ahead of joint exercises conducted by South Korea and the United States.
Kim further emphasized Pyongyang's refusal to engage in dialogue with South Korea, stating that their current stance against improving relations would be codified into the North’s constitution in the future. The ongoing loudspeaker broadcasts are seen as a contentious issue, with both countries using them as tools for propaganda and psychological warfare, which North Korea has previously described as provocative acts.
Residents living along the border have expressed frustration over the relentless noise pollution from both sides, which sometimes extends into the night hours. Historically, North Korea has taken a hostile view of South Korean broadcasts, viewing them as an act of war.
This situation escalated recently when South Korea resumed its speaker broadcasts in June 2024, breaking a six-year hiatus, as part of a tougher approach taken by the then-impeached president Yoon Suk Yeol. Following these tensions, North Korea retaliated by sending balloons filled with waste across the border.
With South Korea opting to halt its broadcasts shortly after newly elected President Lee Jae Myung took office, there were hopes for improving inter-Korean relations. Lee, who ran on a platform focusing on thawing ties, faced the challenge of maintaining stability in a region still fraught with hostility. Despite attempts to ease tensions, both nations remain on edge, with North Korea recently cautioning against any military provocations ahead of joint exercises conducted by South Korea and the United States.
