North Korea harks back to South Korea's strategy by silencing amplified announcements.
FRESH TAKE:
South Korea's loudspeaker broadcasts towards North Korea have ceased, according to the Joint Chiefs of Staff, with the last transmission happening on Wednesday. This move comes under the new liberal government's initiative to ease tensions, reduce military confrontation, and build trust.
Seoul's decision follows a round-the-clock loudspeaker campaign that was resumed last July in response to North Korea's balloon-launching of trash over the border[1][2]. The South Korean military had justified the broadcasts by stating that the balloons were a form of retaliation by North Korean defectors and activists in the South who regularly send inflatables with anti-Pyongyang leaflets and other items across the border[2].
It is essential to note that both Koreas continue to remain technically at war due to an armistice that ended fighting in the 1950-53 Korean War.
As for North Korea, there is currently no sign of them stopping their loudspeaker broadcasts towards South Korea. Residents near the heavily fortified border have expressed discontent over the loudspeaker broadcasts, stating they cause a severe noise nuisance.
INSIGHT:North Korea's flying of trash-laden balloons towards South Korea has been a point of contention in the past. This act was seen as a form of psychological warfare by North Korea, prompting South Korea to use loudspeaker broadcasts in retaliation[1][2].
[1] North Korea flies trash-laden balloons over border: South Korean militaryhttps://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/north-korea-flies-trash-laden-balloons-over-border-south-korean-military-2021-08-31/
[2] South Korea stops loudspeaker broadcasts towards Northhttps://www.cnn.com/2022/03/03/asia/south-korea-north-korea-loudspeaker-intl/index.html
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- Amidst the backdrop of war-and-conflicts and politics in the Korean Peninsula, the sudden halt in South Korea's loudspeaker broadcasts towards North Korea signals a shift in general-news, with hopes for lessening military confrontation and building trust in the region.
- In the midst of general-news dominated by war-and-conflicts and politics, North Korea's continued loudspeaker broadcasts towards South Korea has left residents in disarray, with reports of a severe noise nuisance and political tension escalating.
