North Korean leader Kim Yo-jong denies South's claims of planned removal of loudspeakers along the border.
In a bid to ease tensions and revive dialogue, South Korea has taken a significant step by dismantling all its fixed loudspeakers used for anti-Pyongyang propaganda along the North-South Korean border [1][3][5]. This move comes under President Lee Jae Myung's administration, with the goal of de-escalating tensions between the two nations.
However, North Korea's approach to this issue has been somewhat mixed. Initially, the communist state began removing some of its loudspeakers, but only took down a few and refrained from fully dismantling their broadcasts [2][5]. This partial removal was short-lived, as by August 23, 2025, North Korea reinstalled at least one loudspeaker and even installed two additional loudspeakers along the border [1].
Kim Yo-jong, an influential figure in North Korea, stated that North Korea had neither removed all border-area loudspeakers nor intended to remove them targeting Seoul [1]. This suggests that North Korea remains committed to maintaining its loudspeaker presence.
This activity coincides with North Korea's criticism of joint military exercises between South Korea and the U.S., which began in mid-August 2025. It is possible that these military drills have motivated North Korea to maintain or increase its loudspeaker operations [1].
In summary, South Korea has fully dismantled its loudspeakers as a peace gesture, while North Korea has partially reversed its decision on the removal of its propaganda devices. This reflects a nuanced and somewhat contradictory phase in the ongoing tension between the two nations.
| Aspect | South Korea | North Korea | |-------------------------------|-------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------| | Loudspeaker status | All fixed loudspeakers dismantled | Partial removal at first; then reinstalled and added more[1][2][5] | | Recent changes | Ceased broadcasts June 2025; dismantling in early August[3][5] | Removed few speakers but reinstalled one and added two new since mid-August[1] | | Official stance | Removing speakers to ease tensions | Denies intention to fully remove speakers; critical of joint military drills[1] |
This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter using generative AI tools. The translation was edited by a native English-speaking editor.
[1] [Source 1] [2] [Source 2] [3] [Source 3] [4] [Source 4] [5] [Source 5]
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