Military Begins Dismantling Loudspeakers Toward North Korea: "Practical Step to Ease Tensions"

Dismantling of Loudspeakers Directed at North Korea Begins on August 4

On August 4, the South Korean military began dismantling loudspeakers along the Military Demarcation Line that had been used for broadcasts toward North Korea.

The Ministry of National Defense announced that starting this day, the military began removing the loudspeakers aimed at North Korea. This follows the complete suspension of loudspeaker broadcasts toward North Korea on June 11, and now, the military is proceeding to dismantle the loudspeakers themselves, which served as the broadcasting infrastructure.

Yonhap News

The loudspeakers targeting North Korea had previously been dismantled in May 2018, during the administration of Moon Jae-in. At that time, in accordance with the 'Panmunjom Declaration,' South and North Korea agreed to "cease all hostile acts, including loudspeaker broadcasts and leaflet distribution, and remove their means in the areas along the Military Demarcation Line from May 1, and to turn the Demilitarized Zone into a practical peace zone."

However, the loudspeaker broadcasts toward North Korea were resumed in June of last year under the administration of Yoon Suk-yeol. This resumption was a countermeasure in response to North Korea's continued sending of balloons filled with waste materials.

Regarding the current dismantling of the loudspeakers, the Ministry of National Defense explained, "This is a practical measure to help ease tensions between South and North Korea, implemented within a scope that does not affect the military's readiness posture."

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