South Korea’s military suspects North Korea is installing loudspeakers along border after propaganda broadcasts
South Korea’s military has reported signs that North Korea is installing its own loudspeakers along their heavily armed border, following the South’s decision to resume anti-Pyongyang propaganda broadcasts. This move comes after North Korea sent over 1,000 balloons filled with trash and manure to the South in recent weeks.
The escalating tensions between the two Koreas have also prompted the U.S. and South Korea to discuss nuclear deterrence strategies to counter growing North Korean threats. The allies are reviewing guidelines for their nuclear deterrence strategies and discussing ways to strengthen their combined military training involving strategic U.S. assets.
The resumption of loudspeaker broadcasts by South Korea on Sunday, which included news, criticism of North Korea’s government, and South Korean pop music, has drawn a strong response from North Korea. Kim Yo Jong, the powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, warned of a “new response” from the North if the broadcasts continue.
Despite the heightened verbal threats from North Korea, South Korea remains vigilant and prepared to respond to any provocations. The Joint Chiefs of Staff in South Korea have not specified the border area where the broadcasts took place but have emphasized that any further broadcasts will depend on North Korea’s behavior.
The tit-for-tat actions between the two Koreas, including the use of loudspeakers and balloons for propaganda, have deepened tensions as talks over North Korea’s nuclear ambitions remain stalled. The South Korean government has condemned North Korea’s attempts to cause “anxiety and disruption” and has warned that North Korea will be “solely responsible” for any escalation of tensions.
In 2015, when South Korea restarted loudspeaker broadcasts for the first time in 11 years, North Korea responded by firing artillery rounds across the border. The situation was eventually defused, but the recent actions by both Koreas suggest that tensions are once again on the rise.
