In a recent statement, Kim Yo Jong, the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, declared that the regime has not taken down any of its border loudspeakers amidst escalating tensions with South Korea.
North Korea Asserts Propaganda Loudspeakers Remain Active at Border
North Korea Asserts Propaganda Loudspeakers Remain Active at Border
North Korea firmly denies claims of removing its propaganda loudspeakers, emphasizing its commitment to maintaining its messaging strategy along the border with South Korea.
North Korea's response comes after South Korea's military suggested that some loudspeakers had been removed following a reconfiguration of their own broadcast strategy. Kim Yo Jong's assertion, conveyed through state-run media outlet KCNA, vehemently denied any intention to improve relations, stating, "We have never removed [the speakers] and are not willing to remove them." Her comments signify a continued distance between the two nations, with North Korea's stance likely to be enshrined in its future constitutional framework.
Earlier this week, the South claimed the removal of some of its loudspeakers, a response to North Korea's alleged dismantling of theirs, although Pyongyang dismissed the assertion as an "unfounded unilateral supposition." The ongoing broadcasts from both sides serve as a source of contention; South Korea's stations often play K-pop hits, while North Korea’s broadcasts feature eerie sounds to disrupt the lives of residents near the border area, causing complaints from locals.
North Korea perceives these broadcasts not merely as propaganda, but as acts of aggression, and has previously threatened to destroy such speakers. Tensions have fluctuated over the years, notably after the administration of Yoon Suk Yeol reinstated the broadcasts in June 2024 following North Korea’s provocative actions. The new administration of South Korean President Lee Jae Myung aimed to thaw relations by ceasing broadcasts shortly after he took office in June, hoping to foster trust and peace on the Korean Peninsula despite pervasive unease. In a recent warning, North Korea signaled potential "resolute counteraction" to perceived provocations ahead of upcoming joint military drills planned by South Korea and the United States.
Earlier this week, the South claimed the removal of some of its loudspeakers, a response to North Korea's alleged dismantling of theirs, although Pyongyang dismissed the assertion as an "unfounded unilateral supposition." The ongoing broadcasts from both sides serve as a source of contention; South Korea's stations often play K-pop hits, while North Korea’s broadcasts feature eerie sounds to disrupt the lives of residents near the border area, causing complaints from locals.
North Korea perceives these broadcasts not merely as propaganda, but as acts of aggression, and has previously threatened to destroy such speakers. Tensions have fluctuated over the years, notably after the administration of Yoon Suk Yeol reinstated the broadcasts in June 2024 following North Korea’s provocative actions. The new administration of South Korean President Lee Jae Myung aimed to thaw relations by ceasing broadcasts shortly after he took office in June, hoping to foster trust and peace on the Korean Peninsula despite pervasive unease. In a recent warning, North Korea signaled potential "resolute counteraction" to perceived provocations ahead of upcoming joint military drills planned by South Korea and the United States.
