Kim Yo Jong, the influential sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, has denied South Korean claims that Pyongyang is dismantling propaganda loudspeakers along the border, calling the assertions “groundless.”
In a statement released through state media, Kim accused Seoul of spreading “false information” and said North Korea had not removed any installations, nor did it intend to. Her comments came days after South Korean President Lee Jae-myung ordered the removal of speakers on the southern side of the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) as part of an effort to ease tensions.
Seoul had expressed hope that North Korea might take similar steps, viewing the quieting of border broadcasts as a potential opening for dialogue. Instead, Kim dismissed the gesture as politically motivated and rejected the idea that Pyongyang’s stance was influenced by prospects of talks with Washington.
The exchange highlights the difficulties of resuming inter-Korean dialogue, which has stalled amid deep mistrust. South Korea has sought to reduce hostile measures near the border since Lee took office in June, but North Korea has maintained a more rigid posture.
Analysts say Kim’s remarks underscore the fragile state of peace efforts on the Korean Peninsula. While Seoul presents its recent moves as confidence-building, Pyongyang continues to frame them as tactical rather than genuine.
The DMZ loudspeakers have long been a symbol of psychological warfare between the two Koreas, with both sides broadcasting propaganda, music and political messages across the heavily fortified border. Their dismantling in the past has often coincided with brief periods of thaw, only to be reversed when relations soured.
Kim’s rejection suggests that, despite South Korea’s gestures, prospects for sustained dialogue remain uncertain.
