Kim Jong-un Trembles at 'Ppira'... Full-Scale Psychological Warfare Against North Korea Begins

Unconstitutionality of the Law Banning Anti-North Korea Leaflets... Shackles on Psychological Warfare Against North Korea Released
Minister Shin Won-sik Likely to Officially Activate Loudspeakers After Inauguration
Intelligence Agencies Ready to Infiltrate Information into North Korean Interior

The Constitutional Court's ruling that the so-called 'Anti-North Korea Leaflet Act,' enacted during the Moon Jae-in administration, is unconstitutional has paved the way for full-scale psychological warfare against North Korea. This means that without the burden of suspending or terminating the effectiveness of the September 19 inter-Korean military agreement, it has become possible to pressure Kim Jong-un through the distribution of leaflets and the operation of loudspeakers. These psychological warfare methods are considered asymmetric forces that North Korea fears the most.

The Ministry of Unification immediately expressed its 'welcome' stance in a statement distributed to the press corps last month after the Constitutional Court ruled the amendment to the Inter-Korean Relations Development Act unconstitutional. The Ministry said, "The previous government hastily amended the Inter-Korean Relations Development Act," and "The Constitutional Court's ruling clearly shows that our citizens' freedom of expression was excessively restricted and the North Korean people's right to know was also infringed."

The amendment to the Inter-Korean Relations Development Act is sometimes called the 'Kim Yo-jong Command Law' because the Moon Jae-in administration announced its intention to legislate it immediately after Kim Yo-jong's backlash against leaflet distribution. It was forcibly passed in December 2020, led by the Democratic Party of Korea. The amendment introduced provisions that punish acts such as leaflet distribution with imprisonment of up to three years or a fine of up to 30 million won. This provision also tied the hands of the military authorities regarding loudspeaker broadcasts toward North Korea.

Leaflets, Loudspeakers, and Information Inflow... The Shackles on Psychological Warfare Have Been Released

North Korean Defector Group Flying Leaflets to North Korea
[Image Source=Yonhap News]

The government has already completed preparations for psychological warfare against North Korea. A major trigger was North Korea's drone provocation last December, when President Yoon Suk-yeol ordered a review of suspending the effectiveness of the September 19 military agreement. Subsequently, the Ministry of Unification concluded that suspending the effectiveness of the inter-Korean agreement linked to the Inter-Korean Relations Development Act would itself enable the resumption of leaflet distribution and loudspeaker broadcasts toward North Korea. With the ruling that the Anti-North Korea Leaflet Act itself is unconstitutional, there are no obstacles left, leaving only the government's 'decision' to proceed.

The military authorities are maintaining readiness, having already secured sufficient loudspeaker capabilities. According to data submitted to People Power Party lawmaker Tae Young-ho by the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the military has completed the introduction of new loudspeakers, including 16 mobile loudspeakers and 24 fixed loudspeaker sets, at a cost of 16 billion won. The audible range of the new loudspeakers is 8 to 10 km for mobile loudspeakers and 12 to 15 km for fixed loudspeakers, sufficient to reach from the Military Demarcation Line to the Kaesong Industrial Complex. It is known that during evening hours, the audible range can extend up to 30 km.

Intelligence agencies have also begun work for psychological warfare against North Korea. In May, the National Intelligence Service established the 'Psychological Warfare Bureau for North Korea' as a first-class independent department dedicated to psychological warfare targeting North Korea, abolishing the North Korea Strategy Bureau, which was responsible for talks and exchanges during the Moon Jae-in administration. The newly established Psychological Warfare Bureau is organized under the second deputy director. The second deputy director, who previously handled domestic counterintelligence and counterespionage, was changed to the 'North Korea desk' after the launch of the Yoon Suk-yeol administration. The National Intelligence Service is reportedly preparing psychological warfare to introduce information to North Korean residents.

'Highly Effective' Psychological Warfare... The 'Asymmetric Force' That Makes Kim Jong-un Tremble

Kim Jong-un, Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of North Korea

Psychological warfare is considered an 'asymmetric force' that can give an advantage over North Korea. Kim Yo-jong, the Workers' Party deputy who represents 'Kim Jong-un's voice,' has vehemently opposed leaflet distribution every time, calling them "filthy leaflets." Since the Yoon Suk-yeol administration took office, it has stated that the Anti-North Korea Leaflet Act is unconstitutional, effectively allowing civilians to distribute leaflets. Most recently, on the night of the 20th of last month, the Free North Korea Movement Alliance released 200,000 leaflets, 1,000 USB drives, and 200 booklets around Ganghwa Island in Incheon.

The loudspeakers operated by the military are considered relics of the Cold War era, but looking back at how sensitively North Korea reacted to our loudspeaker broadcasts, it is clear that they have a definite effect. For example, after the August 2015 landmine incident, the government decided to resume loudspeaker broadcasts. At that time, the North threatened, saying "If the loudspeakers do not stop, it will be war," and even fired flare guns at the loudspeakers, but we continued to operate them, and eventually, North Korea expressed regret over the landmine incident.

'Information inflow' is also a pillar of psychological warfare against North Korea. An intelligence source said, "The Yoon Suk-yeol administration is increasing pressure on the Kim Jong-un regime through efforts to lead discussions on 'North Korean human rights' on the international stage," adding, "they are also continuously considering ways to covertly introduce information internally." The idea is to introduce facts that the North Korean authorities have not disclosed to unsettle the residents. For example, the fact that Kim Jong-un's biological mother is considered a 'Zainichi Korean,' regarded as the lowest class in North Korea, and that there are several defectors even within Kim Jong-un's family are considered 'Achilles' heels.'

"Psychological Warfare Including Loudspeakers to Intensify Once Minister Shin Won-sik Takes Office"

An Army soldier operating a loudspeaker broadcasting device aimed at North Korea Photo by Yonhap News

North Korea has already raised the level of psychological warfare against South Korea, even employing cyberattacks. In particular, it has evolved to sophisticatedly exploit South Korea's social issues. In October last year, it distributed a Word file titled 'Yongsan-gu Itaewon Accident Response Status - 2022.10.31 (Mon) 06:00 Current' embedded with malware. When a fire occurred at the SK C&C Pangyo data center causing Kakao service disruptions, phishing emails titled '[Kakao] Partial Service Error Recovery and Emergency Measures Notice' were sent out.

The government is also monitoring this. Some evaluate that President Yoon's order in April to 'strengthen psychological warfare' against North Korea's activities and espionage operations marked the start of psychological warfare. In fact, although North Korea launched more than 70 missiles in unprecedented provocations last year, since this spring, aside from reconnaissance satellite launches, it has somewhat restrained major provocations. Psychological warfare is expected to intensify more fully once the security line is reshuffled, including the appointment of Shin Won-sik as Minister of National Defense following Kim Young-ho, who is considered a hardliner as Minister of Unification.

A government official said, "We considered suspending the effectiveness of the September 19 inter-Korean military agreement, but judged that if we terminate it first, it could give North Korea an excuse for provocations, so it was deemed not beneficial." The official added, "The Ministry of Unification has already effectively allowed leaflet distribution toward North Korea. Once the replacement of the Minister of National Defense is complete, there may be a kind of declaration that loudspeakers toward North Korea can be operated 'at any time,' or they may be operated without notice if North Korea crosses the line with provocations such as intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs)."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.