Military Halts Loudspeaker Broadcasts Toward North Korea One Year After Resumption Under Yoon Administration

President Lee Pledges to Halt Loudspeaker Broadcasts Toward North Korea
Ministry of Unification Previously Requested Suspension of Anti-North Korea Leaflet Distributions

The South Korean military has halted its loudspeaker broadcasts toward North Korea, one year after resuming them in June of last year.

According to the military on June 11, authorities suspended the fixed loudspeaker broadcasts installed at various locations along the front lines starting that day. A military official explained, "From this afternoon, all fixed loudspeaker broadcasts along the entire front have been suspended." It is known that this suspension of loudspeaker broadcasts toward North Korea was carried out in accordance with instructions from the Presidential Office.

Yonhap News Agency

However, as of now, North Korea has not taken any corresponding measures in response.

Previously, on June 9, about five days after the launch of the National Sovereignty Government, the Ministry of Unification requested that civic groups suspend the distribution of anti-North Korea leaflets. Following this request, the South Korean government's suspension of loudspeaker broadcasts toward North Korea is seen as a preemptive gesture aimed at easing inter-Korean tensions.

The South Korean military had resumed the loudspeaker broadcasts toward North Korea in June of last year, during the administration of President Yoon Suk-yeol, as a countermeasure to North Korean balloon-borne waste. This was the first time in six years since the broadcasts were halted in April 2018, just before the inter-Korean summit during the administration of President Moon Jae-in.

President Lee Jaemyung had pledged to halt the loudspeaker broadcasts toward North Korea since his presidential campaign. On May 2 of last month, while he was a candidate, President Lee stated on Facebook, "Peace on the Korean Peninsula is a core issue directly linked to the safety of our people and our national economy," adding, "We will protect peace and safety in border areas by mutually suspending leaflet distributions, waste balloons, and loudspeaker broadcasts between the two Koreas."