South Korean border town counters North Korea's disturbing acoustic attack through a sonic map plot
Getting a Grip on the Noise
Over the next few months, officials in Ganghwa County are conducting a unique project: creating a noise map of the region near the Korean border. This undertaking is aimed at helping the approximate 22,000 locals cope with the deafening sounds coming from North Korea's loudspeakers, which have been growing increasingly intense.
According to The Korea Times newspaper, the noise map will offer a detailed representation of the sound levels and frequencies, considering key factors such as the time, volume, and direction of the sound.
On the other side of the border, journalists from Agence France-Presse reported harrowing sounds during a visit in November. These included haunting battlefield cries, gunfire, exploding bombs, and eerie music played through speakers close to midnight. Village elder Ahn Hyo-cheol, 66, shared that these new noises represented a new tactic from North Korea in their propaganda broadcasts.
Beyond the Border
The South Korean initiative highlights the negative effects of North Korea's loudspeaker broadcasts on the lives of local residents. The purpose of the project is twofold: protecting residents from the psychological impact of the noises and gathering valuable data to help manage their effects.
- The project aims to protect residents from the intense sounds coming from the border, which have been used by North Korea as a form of psychological warfare.
- By taking precise measurements of noise levels at 82 locations along the border, they hope to analyze the volume, frequency, time, and direction of the sound to create a manageable tool for local authorities.
The implementation of the noise map project involves several steps:
- Measuring Locations: Noise levels will be measured at 82 strategic locations along the Korean border.
- Timing: Measurements will occur during three-day intervals until November.
- Analysis: With the data collected, they plan to create a useful and informative noise map, giving local authorities a better understanding of how the sound propagates and affects residents in various ways.
[1] By creating a noise map, local authorities can better address the impact of North Korea's loudspeaker broadcasts on residents living near the border.
[2] In order to generate the noise map, measurements will be taken at 82 strategic locations along the Korean border, and the data collected will provide valuable insights into the volume, frequency, time, and direction of the sound. This information will help authorities understand how the sound propagates and affects residents differently.
[3] The South Korean government will assess the effectiveness of their noise map project by comparing it with general-news reports from Agence France-Presse about the soundscapes in North Korea, shedding light on the role of politics in intensifying the psychological impact of noise on both sides of the border.
