North Korea announces no elimination of broadcasting devices at the boundary
The Koreas, technically still at war, find themselves in a standstill regarding the future of their relations, as North Korea's official stance denies any removal of propaganda loudspeakers along the border with South Korea. This dispute arises despite South Korea's military reports of limited dismantling.
In early August 2025, South Korea dismantled all its fixed loudspeakers as a practical measure to help ease tensions with the North. However, North Korea, under the leadership of Kim Yo Jong, the influential sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, refuted these reports, stating that they never removed any loudspeakers in the border area and refuse to do so.
This rejection was emphasized further when North Korea installed two new loudspeakers along the border, suggesting ongoing propaganda activity rather than removal. Kim Yo Jong accused South Korea of attempting to mislead public opinion by claiming that its "goodwill measures" and "appeasement policy" are finding an echo and making it appear as if relations between the two Koreas are improving.
The broadcasting of propaganda by loudspeakers has been a long-standing issue between the two nations. South Korea has been broadcasting K-pop and news bulletins towards the North, while North Korea emits unsettling noises. Previously, these broadcasts have provoked threats of artillery strikes from North Korea.
President Lee Jae-Myung, who took office in early June, has promised to extend a hand to Pyongyang and argued that "peace is preferable to war, whatever the cost." However, Kim Yo Jong reiterated North Korea's refusal to improve relations with South Korea, referring to the two Koreas by their official names, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) for North Korea and the Republic of Korea for South Korea.
As the joint military exercises between South Korea and the United States approach, scheduled from August 18 to 28, the South Korean government plans to continue "pursuing normalization and stabilization measures" with North Korea. However, the ongoing dispute over the loudspeakers along the border raises questions about the prospects for improved relations between the two nations.
[1] Source: BBC News, "North Korea denies removing propaganda loudspeakers from border with South", August 13, 2025. [2] Source: Reuters, "North Korea's Kim Yo Jong refutes South Korea's claim of removing loudspeakers", August 15, 2025.
[1] The ongoing dispute over the loudspeakers, a long-standing issue in politics between the two Koreas, has raised questions about the prospects for improved relations, as North Korea's leadership under Kim Yo Jong rejects South Korea's claims of removal and instead installs new loudspeakers.
[2] Despite South Korea dismantling its fixed loudspeakers as a peace-making measure in early August, the general news reports continual tension in war-and-conflicts between the two nations, as North Korea denies any removal and accuses South Korea of attempting to mislead public opinion.
