The South Korean Ministry of National Defense announced today that the removal of the loudspeakers is "a practical measure to reduce inter-Korean tensions without affecting the military's combat readiness".

South Korea's loudspeaker broadcasts, directed towards North Korea, consisted of world news and K-pop music. The sound from these speakers reportedly could travel more than 20 km into North Korean territory.

In 6/2024, South Korea resumed loudspeaker broadcasts at the border after Pyongyang repeatedly sent balloons containing leaflets into its territory.

South Korean soldiers dismantle loudspeakers near the demilitarized zone separating the two Koreas in 2018. Photo: *Reuters*

However, shortly after taking office last June, President Lee Jae-myung halted the broadcasts to fulfill his pledge to restore peace and trust between the two Koreas and to seek the resumption of stalled dialogue with North Korea.

On 9/6, the South Korean Ministry of Unification also requested civilian groups to stop sending leaflets across the border. These measures appear intended to create a more conducive atmosphere for dialogue.

However, Pyongyang recently rejected the offer of dialogue, stating that it has "no interest in talks" with Seoul.

Technically, the two countries are still at war, as the 1950-1953 Korean War ended with an armistice, not a peace treaty.

President Lee Jae-myung is considered to have a more moderate stance on North Korea than his predecessor, Yoon Suk-yeol. He has expressed his desire to create a peaceful and stable peninsula where both Koreas can "coexist and cooperate to find a path to shared prosperity".

Huyen Le (*Reuters, Yonhap*)