Global (Commonwealth Union) _ South Korea has begun dismantling propaganda loudspeakers along the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) in an attempt to shift its approach towards inter-Korean relations under President Lee Jae Myung’s administration. The decision, which was described by the Defence Ministry as “a practical measure to ease inter-Korean tensions,” follows a broader effort by the new liberal government to reduce hostilities while maintaining military readiness.
The anti-North Korean broadcasts, a long-time fixture of the militarized border, were suspended in June. President Lee, a vocal advocate of reconciliation, has framed the effort as not only a peace-building measure but also as a strategy to reduce economic uncertainty. According to Lee, “Strengthening peace in the border regions will help ease tensions across all of South Korea.”
Originally introduced by North Korea in 1962, the propaganda loudspeakers have been mirrored by South Korea, which has used them for military signaling and other operations. However, recent broadcasts include K-pop songs and accurate weather reports, along with messages that subtly influence North Koreans to defect to the South. Although the reach of the broadcast lies at around 19 miles, several defectors have admitted that the broadcasts had played a part in their decision to flee.
Despite their limited technical range, the loudspeakers have also provoked strong reactions, with North Korea firing at a speaker installation in 2015, initiating an exchange of artillery fire. Such incidents have raised concerns among residents near the border, who have also complained about the psychological toll of the nightly noise from both sides. During a visit in June, a woman in a South Korean border village informed President Lee that the sounds from the North were so disturbing that even sleeping pills offered no relief.
Relations between North and South Korea remain tense. Following the breakdown of summits in 2018 and a more confrontational policy under former President Yoon Suk Yeol, who is now under investigation for allegedly provoking the North, diplomatic progress has stalled. North Korea’s leadership, halting its own broadcasts after South Korea’s suspension, remains sceptical. Kim Yo Jong, sister to leader Kim Jong Un, recently stated that no gesture from Seoul could undo the changed nature of inter-Korean ties.
Although the two countries are technically still at war, Lee’s administration intends to restart dialogue, even with Pyongyang insisting it has no interest. With distrust lingering on both sides, the dismantling of loudspeakers may be more symbolic than transformative, but it marks a notable attempt to shift the narrative.
