South Korea Begins Dismantling Border Loudspeakers to Ease Tensions with North Korea Under President Lee

Seoul halts anti-North Korea propaganda broadcasts and removes loudspeakers along the DMZ in a peace-building move, despite Pyongyang’s rejection of dialogue.

In a significant step aimed at easing inter-Korean tensions, South Korea has begun dismantling its border loudspeakers that previously broadcast anti-North Korea propaganda. The move, announced by Seoul’s Ministry of National Defence, marks a key policy shift under the newly elected President Lee Jae-myung, who took office in June 2025 following the impeachment and removal of his predecessor, Yoon Suk‑yeol, over an abortive martial law declaration.

"Starting today, the military has begun removing the loudspeakers," stated Lee Kyung-ho, spokesperson for the Defence Ministry, during a press briefing on Monday. While the ministry did not disclose the exact number of loudspeakers being taken down, it confirmed that all units set up along the border will be dismantled by the end of the week.

These loudspeakers had long been a symbol of psychological warfare on the Demilitarised Zone (DMZ)—the heavily fortified border that separates the two Koreas. They were used to broadcast criticisms of the North Korean regime, K-pop music, and pro-democracy messages, especially after tensions escalated due to trash-filled balloons launched by Pyongyang toward the South last year. In retaliation, the former administration had resumed the loudspeaker broadcasts, further heightening hostilities.

However, President Lee’s administration quickly turned off the broadcasts upon taking office, in a bid to "restore trust" and revive long-stalled diplomatic dialogue. This dismantling is now being presented by Seoul as a “practical measure aimed at helping ease tensions with the North,” as long as it does not compromise the military’s state of readiness.

The shift comes amid increasingly strained inter-Korean relations. Despite the goodwill gestures from Seoul, North Korea has rejected any overtures for renewed dialogue, declaring it has "no interest in talking to South Korea." Kim Yo Jong, the influential sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, dismissed South Korea’s conciliatory efforts last week, stating:

If the ROK (Republic of Korea) expected that it could reverse all the results it had made with a few sentimental words, nothing is [a] more serious miscalculation.

This rebuff underscores the deep freeze in relations, which have deteriorated further in recent years. Notably, the Korean War (1950–1953) ended not with a peace treaty but with an armistice—a formal agreement to stop fighting without officially ending the war. Thus, the two Koreas remain technically at war, and any military or diplomatic action on either side is highly sensitive.

Another strategic concern influencing the regional dynamics is North Korea’s growing alignment with Russia, particularly following Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Pyongyang has increasingly drawn closer to the Kremlin, raising alarms in Seoul and among its Western allies.

Despite the setbacks, President Lee has reiterated his commitment to pursuing unconditional talks with North Korea. His administration's approach represents a stark contrast to that of his predecessor, whose hardline stance further alienated Pyongyang. Lee’s policies are grounded in the belief that confidence-building measures—such as ceasing psychological operations—can help create a conducive environment for future negotiations.

The ongoing dismantling of border loudspeakers, therefore, is more than a symbolic gesture; it signals a strategic pivot in Seoul’s diplomacy, aimed at de-escalation, trust restoration, and potential re-engagement with the North in the longer term.

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