Seoul, South Korea – South Korea began dismantling 20 fixed loudspeakers along the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) on Tuesday, July 9, 2024, following North Korea’s apparent cessation of similar broadcasts, marking a notable, albeit cautious, step towards de-escalation between the two Koreas.
the South Korean Ministry of Unification stated the move aligns with efforts to reduce tensions without compromising military preparedness.The dismantling process is expected to be completed within two to three days,according to Yonhap News Agency.
This action follows South Korea’s declaration in June that it would halt anti-Pyongyang propaganda broadcasts via loudspeakers.prior to this, North Korea had seemingly suspended its own broadcasts directed south, a change observed by the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff.
The Joint Chiefs of Staff confirmed that no north Korean loudspeaker broadcasts had been detected in any region along the border. Monitoring continues to assess North Korean activity.
Seoul views North Korea’s suspension of broadcasts as a “precious prospect” to rebuild trust. The loudspeakers have been a recurring source of friction,used for decades to disseminate information adn propaganda across the heavily fortified border.
South Korea initially resumed its loudspeaker broadcasts in June 2024, after a four-year hiatus, in response to north Korea launching balloons carrying trash and leaflets into South Korean territory. These balloon launches were widely interpreted as a form of psychological warfare and a retaliatory measure against anti-North korean leaflets sent by defectors in the South. The initial resumption of broadcasts targeted areas near the cities of Gyeonggi-do and Gangwon-do provinces.
The DMZ,established after the Korean War armistice in 1953,is a 250-kilometer (155-mile) long buffer zone dividing the Korean Peninsula. The loudspeaker systems, while relatively limited in range, have historically been a potent symbol of the ongoing conflict and distrust between the two nations. The last major dismantling of loudspeakers occurred in 2018 as part of a broader detente effort, but they were re-established in 2024 following escalating tensions.
