On June 11th, South Korea’s new President, Lee Jae-myung, ordered the military to stop broadcasting music and political propaganda to North Korea through loudspeakers. Observers believe that this move may signal Seoul’s new government seeking to ease cross-border tensions.
Lee Jae-myung’s spokesperson Kang Yu-jung stated at a press conference that the decision aims to “restore mutual trust between North and South Korea and maintain peace on the Korean Peninsula.”
Last week, Lee Jae-myung took office as the President of South Korea, putting an end to six months of political turmoil. In his inauguration speech, Lee Jae-myung expressed his intention to “establish channels of communication with North Korea and achieve peace on the Korean Peninsula through dialogue and cooperation.”
For decades since the 1960s, North and South Korea have engaged in propaganda warfare in the heavily fortified border areas. Pyongyang has viewed South Korea’s border broadcasts as acts of war and has threatened to destroy the loudspeakers.
Over the years, right-wing civilian groups led by defectors have intermittently launched balloons filled with leaflets and USB drives criticizing the Kim dynasty’s rule into the southern border from South Korea.
In 2018, North Korea released balloons filled with garbage towards the South Korean border, leading to a suspension of South Korean broadcasts. In July last year, former conservative President Yoon Suk Yeol resumed the broadcasts during his term. Shortly after the resumption, a balloon filled with garbage landed at the South Korean presidential residence, raising concerns about the security of the country’s key facilities.
The loudspeaker broadcasts have been ongoing smoothly over the past year.
However, under the progressive administration of Lee Jae-myung, these loudspeakers were deemed ineffective, instead provoking North Korea and increasing the risk of military conflicts in the border regions.
During his time as the governor of Gyeonggi Province bordering North Korea from 2018 to 2021, Lee Jae-myung took measures to combat propaganda activities in the border areas, such as prohibiting civilian groups from launching balloons.
Since taking office, Lee Jae-myung has not elaborated on his plans to adjust the policies towards North Korea. In his inauguration speech last week, he hinted at maintaining a strong military force to address threats from North Korea while keeping an open attitude towards negotiations.
Lee Jae-myung also mentioned the alliance between South Korea and the United States (which has around 28,500 soldiers stationed in South Korea), stating, “We will deter nuclear threats and military provocations, while keeping communication channels open to establish peace on the Korean Peninsula.”