South Korea Suspends Propaganda Broadcasts to North Korea

South Korea’s military has suspended its loudspeaker propaganda broadcasts across the border to North Korea, aiming to “restore trust” between both countries. This move comes a week after the country’s new president, Lee Jae-myung, was elected on a platform of improving inter-Korean ties.

The broadcasts, which included news from both Koreas and abroad, as well as information on democracy and life in South Korea, were resumed in June last year in response to North Korea’s campaign of sending rubbish-filled balloons across the border.

The decision to suspend the broadcasts has been met with mixed reactions. Some residents living along the border have welcomed the move, citing the noise disturbance caused by the loudspeakers. “We hope this decision will lead to an end to North Korea’s noise-based psychological warfare, allowing our residents to return to their normal daily lives,” said Ganghwa county in a statement. However, organizations advocating for human rights in North Korea have criticized the suspension, arguing that it will only strengthen Kim Jong Un’s efforts to isolate his people.

“The loudspeakers were a vital bridge to the North Korean people, a reminder that they are not forgotten,” said Hana Song, Executive Director of the Database Center for North Korean Human Rights. “By turning them off, we’ve only strengthened Kim Jong Un’s efforts to keep his people isolated. The fact that one of the new government’s first actions is to turn off the loudspeakers is a troubling sign,” she added. “It suggests we’re returning to the days of appeasing the North Korean regime.”

The suspension of the broadcasts is seen as a bid to reduce tensions between the two countries, which have been technically at war since the Korean War ended in 1953 without a peace treaty. While the military’s decision to suspend rather than terminate the broadcasts signals that the speakers could be fired up again if needed.