Paju City in Gyeonggi Province expressed its welcome on August 4, 2025, as the Ministry of National Defense began dismantling the loudspeakers installed by the South Korean military for broadcasts toward North Korea, 53 days after the broadcasts were halted in accordance with President Lee Jaemyung's directive on June 11, 2025.
Paju City welcomed the start of the removal of the loudspeakers directed at North Korea, installed by our military, at the Ministry of National Defense on the 4th. Kim Kyungil, mayor of Paju City, is shaking hands with residents of Jangdan. Photo by Paju City
In particular, the city explained, "From June 9, 2024, when the broadcasts toward North Korea were resumed, until June 11, 2025, when they were stopped, Paju suffered for over a year from both North-South broadcasts. The current dismantling of the loudspeakers, as stated by the Ministry of National Defense, is a practical step toward easing inter-Korean tensions and will serve as a foundation for the peace that all 540,000 residents of Paju have longed for."
In fact, Kim Donggu, the head of Daeseong-dong Village, the northernmost village in Paju that has suffered for a long time from both North-South broadcasts, stated, "All residents welcome the dismantling of the loudspeakers by our military, and we hope that dialogue between North and South Korea will resume so that peace can be sustained."
Paju Mayor Kim Kyungil said, "Peace is always right," adding, "Together with the 540,000 citizens of Paju, I welcome this measure and will do my utmost so that Paju can open the door to inter-Korean exchanges and play a role in establishing lasting peace."
Mayor Kim further added, "I hope North Korea will take corresponding measures in response to the dismantling of the loudspeakers, so that inter-Korean communication channels can be restored as soon as possible."
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