North Korea has begun dismantling propaganda speakers along its border with South Korea, a move seen as a positive reaction to the new government’s efforts to improve inter-Korean ties. The speaker broadcasts, which were suspended by South Korea in June 2024, were part of a longstanding tradition where loudspeakers on both sides played opposing messages.
The broadcasts featured K-pop songs and news reports from South Korea, while North Korea played unsettling noises like howling animals. However, the move appears to be a shift towards a more relaxed approach after six years of resumption in response to Pyongyang’s campaign of sending balloons filled with rubbish to South Korea.
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung had campaigned on improving ties with North Korea, and his efforts seem to have borne fruit. The speaker dismantling comes as Seoul suspended its own broadcasts earlier this week, following a similar move from North Korea.
The development is seen as a step towards easing tensions between the two countries, which are technically still at war since the Korean War ended in 1953 without a peace treaty.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cm2klzxldl6o