North Korea has begun dismantling some of its loudspeakers along the inter-Korean border, South Korea’s military confirmed on Saturday. This follows Seoul’s own removal of propaganda speakers earlier this week, in a mutual effort to reduce tensions.
South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff did not specify the exact locations of the removals, nor whether Pyongyang plans to take down all its speakers. The move comes after months of complaints from South Korean border residents about irritating sounds, including howling animals and pounding gongs, broadcast from North Korean speakers in retaliation for Seoul’s propaganda.
The latest development follows North Korea’s halt of its own broadcasts in June, after South Korea’s new liberal president, Lee Jae-myung, stopped South Korean transmissions. Lee, who took office in June, aims to improve relations with Pyongyang after years of tension under conservative predecessor Yoon Suk Yeol.
South Korea’s military began removing its border speakers on Monday, though details on storage or potential rapid redeployment remain undisclosed. Pyongyang has not officially confirmed its dismantling efforts, but the step is seen as a positive sign after months of Cold War-style psychological warfare.
Tensions could still rise later this month when South Korea and the United States begin their annual large-scale military exercises on 18 August. North Korea condemns these drills as invasion rehearsals and often uses them to justify weapons tests.
