North Korea starts dismantling some border loudspeakers, South Korea says
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox
A North Korean soldier standing guard in a watchtower next to a loudspeaker (right), near the demilitarised zone in Paju on June 12.
PHOTO: AFP
Follow topic:
SEOUL – South Korea’s military said on Aug 9 it had detected the North Korean military dismantling some propaganda loudspeakers aimed at the South in parts of the border area, following similar moves by the South.
This is the first time Seoul has made such a statement since President Lee Jae Myung took office two months ago and South Korea began dismantling its own speakers
The military said further confirmation was needed on whether the dismantling was taking place across all areas, adding that it would continue monitoring related activities.
Seeking to ease tensions with Pyongyang, Mr Lee’s liberal government, which replaced a conservative one, switched off propaganda broadcasts criticising the North Korean regime soon after he became president.
On Aug 4, South Korean authorities began removing loudspeakers blaring anti-North Korea broadcasts along the country’s border, as Mr Lee revives stalled dialogue between the long-time arch-rivals.
The countries remain technically at war after the 1950 to 1953 Korean War ended in a truce, and relations have deteriorated in the last few years.
Cross-border propaganda broadcasts through loudspeakers have been used by both sides as relations between South and North Korea have ebbed and flowed over the years. REUTERS
