editor
The South Korean government has officially begun dismantling loudspeakers that were previously used to broadcast anti-North Korea messages along the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), as part of efforts to ease political and military tensions between the two nations. The announcement was made by South Korea’s Ministry of National Defense on Monday.
According to the BBC, the move comes under the new administration led by President Lee Jae-myung, who took office in June and swiftly ordered an end to propaganda broadcasts that criticized the North Korean regime. The main objective, according to Seoul, is to reopen channels of dialogue with North Korea after years of strained relations and diplomatic silence.
“The removal of the loudspeakers is a practical step to help reduce tensions between the South and the North,” said the Ministry of National Defense in a statement to the media.
However, despite these conciliatory gestures from South Korea, Pyongyang has yet to show any willingness to engage. Just a few weeks ago, North Korea rejected a proposal to return to the negotiation table, stating it has no intention of initiating talks with the South.
Relations between the two countries have remained cold for decades, especially since the end of the Korean War (1950–1953), which concluded with an armistice agreement rather than a formal peace treaty.
