South Korea has resumed loudspeaker broadcasts directed at North Korea in response to Pyongyang’s actions of sending balloons carrying trash into the South. The decision to resume the broadcasts, as a form of psychological warfare, came after North Korea launched around 330 balloons with trash attached, with approximately 80 of them dropping over the border, according to South Korea’s military.
South Korea’s National Security Council stated, “The measures we will take may be unbearable for the North Korean regime but they will send a message of hope and light to the North’s troops and its people.”
After warning North Korea of retaliatory measures, which could include propaganda broadcasts from loudspeakers at the border, South Korea initiated the broadcasts on Sunday afternoon. The continuation of these broadcasts will depend on North Korea’s response, as stated by South Korea’s military.
Later on Sunday, the South Korean military reported that more balloons had been launched by North Korea and could potentially fly into the South. Residents were warned not to touch any objects attached to the balloons.
Pyongyang had started sending balloons carrying trash and manure across the border in May in retaliation for anti-North leaflets flown by South Korean activists. Despite temporarily halting the balloon launches on June 2, North Korea vowed to resume them if leaflets are once again flown from the South.
South Korean activists have continued to defy warnings by sending more balloons to the North with leaflets criticizing Kim Jong Un, along with USB sticks containing K-pop content and U.S. dollar notes.
North Korea has displayed strong reactions towards the leaflet campaign and the loudspeaker broadcasts, even resorting to firing weapons at the balloons and speakers. Tensions between the two Koreas have escalated since an agreement signed in 2018, leading to the resumption of broadcasts by South Korea.
The broadcasts include world news, information about democratic and capitalist societies, and popular K-pop music, with the sound carrying over 20 kilometers into North Korea.
By Jack Kim
