President Lee Pledges Measures to Ease Inter-Korean Tensions
Ministry of Unification Also Calls for Suspension of Leaflet Campaigns Toward North Korea
The military has suspended its loudspeaker broadcasts toward North Korea, which had been resumed in June last year, after one year of operation.
According to the Joint Chiefs of Staff on June 11, the military halted the fixed loudspeaker broadcasts installed at various locations along the front line starting from this day. A military official stated, "As of this afternoon, fixed loudspeaker broadcasts have been suspended across the entire front line," and explained, "This is part of fulfilling a public pledge to restore trust in inter-Korean relations and promote peace on the Korean Peninsula."
At a regular briefing on June 9, the Joint Chiefs of Staff was asked about the possibility of suspending the loudspeaker broadcasts in light of the fact that North Korea has not sent waste balloons for more than half a year. They responded, "We have repeatedly stated that whether to suspend the broadcasts toward North Korea depends on North Korea's actions," and added, "A comprehensive review at the government level is necessary, taking into account the security situation."
The military's decision to suspend the loudspeaker broadcasts just two days later appears to reflect the government's intention to ease tensions between the two Koreas. Following the Ministry of Unification's request on June 9 for civic groups to stop sending leaflets to North Korea, the suspension of the loudspeaker broadcasts serves as a preemptive gesture toward North Korea.
However, the military clarified that this measure is a "suspension," which is temporary in nature, rather than a "halt," which would indicate a complete cessation. This implies that the loudspeaker broadcasts may be resumed depending on North Korea's response. In fact, as of now, it is reported that North Korea has not yet taken any corresponding measures.
Meanwhile, the South Korean military resumed the loudspeaker broadcasts toward North Korea in June last year, during the administration of President Yoon Suk Yeol, as a countermeasure to North Korea's waste balloons. This marked the first resumption in six years since the broadcasts were suspended in April 2018, just before the inter-Korean summit during the administration of President Moon Jae In.
President Lee Jae Myung had pledged to suspend the loudspeaker broadcasts toward North Korea since his candidacy. On his Facebook page on May 2, while he was still a candidate, President Lee stated, "Peace on the Korean Peninsula is a core task directly linked to the safety of our people and our national economy," and added, "We will protect peace and safety in border areas by mutually suspending leaflet campaigns, waste balloons, and broadcasts both to and from North Korea."
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