Mayor Kim Kyung-il: "Daeseong-dong is a living hell, North Korea, government, and international community must take action"

Kim Kyung-il, Mayor of Paju City, Issues Urgent Appeal on 1st
"Noise Levels Exceed Disease Control Threshold, Surpassing 135dB"
"Government and Presidential Office Must Visit Site to Resolve Issue"
"North Korea, UN, Government, and International Community Must Stop This Inhumane Situation"

Kim Kyung-il, Mayor of Paju City (left), visited Daeseong-dong Village on the 31st of last month to discuss with residents the damage caused by North Korea's loudspeaker broadcasts targeting the South.

Kim Kyung-il, mayor of Paju City, Gyeonggi Province, appealed for the necessity of joint efforts by South and North Korea and the international community to alleviate the suffering of local residents affected by North Korea's continuous loudspeaker broadcasts targeting the South.

In an urgent appeal issued on the afternoon of the 1st, Mayor Kim stated, "Regardless of the reasons, North Korea must first stop the loudspeaker broadcasts directed at Daeseong-dong Village, and our government should decisively halt leaflet and loudspeaker broadcasts mutually and swiftly reach an agreement with the North."

He also urged world leaders participating in the Neutral Nations Supervisory Commission and the United Nations Command, as well as UN Secretary-General Ant?nio Guterres, not to remain silent but to step forward and resolve the issue.

Mayor Kim said, "After visiting Daeseong-dong on the 31st of last month, I was overwhelmed with helplessness and despair, unable to sleep all night," adding, "North Korea's loudspeaker attacks have surpassed the levels we had imagined, turning Daeseong-dong into a living hell."

He explained the situation on the ground, saying, "Currently in Daeseong-dong, a chilling 'horror sound attack' is taking place, mixing ear-piercing mechanical noises, ghostly wails, and wolf howls," and "This worst-case scenario, where residents cannot sleep or even hold ordinary conversations with neighbors, continues 24 hours a day and is beyond words."

According to the city, the noise level in Daeseong-dong currently reaches a peak of 135 dB.

135 dB exceeds the highest noise standard of 120 dB set by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, with 120 dB being the noise generated by fighter jets during takeoff and landing.

Mayor Kim repeatedly urged North Korea to stop the loudspeaker broadcasts targeting the South to resolve the situation.

He asserted, "If North Korea does not stop the loudspeaker broadcasts now, an inhumane incident unintended even by the North Korean authorities could occur in Daeseong-dong Village," and "If it is impossible to immediately stop all balloon leaflet releases and loudspeaker broadcasts targeting the South, at least the terrifying broadcasts directed at Daeseong-dong Village should be temporarily suspended as an urgent measure."

He also appealed to the government to promptly reach an agreement.

Mayor Kim requested, "If resolving this issue takes time, at least preemptively suspend broadcasts near Daeseong-dong and reach an agreement with the North to halt the broadcasts," and "I urge officials, centered on the Presidential Office, to urgently visit Daeseong-dong, meet with residents, and work toward resolving the problem."

Furthermore, Mayor Kim called on UN Command Commander Paul J. LaCamera, who oversees the Joint Security Area, UN Secretary-General Ant?nio Guterres, and world leaders from countries participating in the Neutral Nations Supervisory Commission and the UN Command, including the United States and Canada, to actively engage in swiftly resolving the situation.

Mayor Kim stated, "Continuing this tragedy that has lasted a month in Daeseong-dong Village is a disgrace to humanity, an unprecedented anti-human rights incident, and a violation of the armistice agreement," and "The UN Command and the international community bear responsibility to stop this 'inhumane runaway locomotive,' so they must no longer remain silent but take action."

He emphasized, "What is happening now in Daeseong-dong is an unimaginable and terrifying situation rarely seen in human history," and "Since debating responsibility or sequence seems trivial in this extraordinary situation, South and North Korea and the international community must come together to pull the emergency brake."