South Korean military indicated on Sunday (June 9th) that it has resumed broadcasting propaganda through loudspeakers aimed at North Korea, in order to enforce the demand for Pyongyang to cease launching balloons carrying trash towards South Korea.
According to Reuters, the South Korean military stated that the resumption of broadcasts is a form of psychological warfare. After North Korea began launching around 330 balloons with attached garbage and pollutants on Saturday (June 8th), approximately 80 of which fell into South Korean territory, the decision was made by South Korea.
The South Korean National Security Council stated: “The measures we will take may be unbearable for the North Korean regime, but these measures will convey hope and light to the North Korean military and people.”
South Korea had previously warned of retaliatory measures against North Korea, including the possibility of setting up large loudspeakers for propaganda broadcasts along the border.
The South Korean military stated that the broadcast of propaganda messages took place on Sunday afternoon, and whether there will be more broadcasts in the future will depend on the reaction from Pyongyang.
Later on Sunday evening, the South Korean military reported that North Korea had launched more balloons which could possibly fly into South Korean territory, warning residents not to touch any objects attached to the balloons. No further details were provided by the military.
Since May, North Korea has been sending balloons carrying trash and excrement towards the South Korean border, claiming retaliation against South Korean activists distributing anti-North Korea leaflets.
On June 2nd, North Korea announced a temporary halt to the balloon launches, citing that the 15 tons of trash carried by these balloons may suffice to convey North Korea’s message. However, the regime vowed to continue sending garbage-filled balloons in hundredfold numbers if leaflets were to fly in from South Korea again.
Subsequently, despite warnings, a group of South Korean activists released more balloons over North Korea, carrying leaflets criticizing North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, along with USB drives containing Korean pop music videos and dramas, as well as U.S. dollars.
North Korea has responded fiercely to South Korean actions of distributing leaflets and broadcasting messages through loudspeakers, sometimes resorting to firing weapons at these balloons and loudspeakers.
According to an agreement signed by the leaders of both countries in 2018, South Korea had ceased such propaganda broadcasts. However, tensions between the two countries have continuously escalated due to North Korea’s ongoing weapon development.
The broadcasts aired by South Korea include world news and information about democracy and capitalist societies, interspersed with popular Korean pop music. It is believed that these broadcasts can reach locations more than 20 kilometers (12.4 miles) inside North Korean territory.