South Korea has started dismantling some of its propaganda loudspeakers along the border with North Korea, the military said, a quiet move that analysts see as aimed at lowering tensions.
The speakers, used for decades to blast anti-Pyongyang slogans, K-pop songs and news bulletins across the Demilitarized Zone, have long been part of the psychological standoff. North Korea runs its own systems, pushing pro-regime broadcasts back across the frontier.
Military officials confirmed some equipment had been taken down, calling it part of a review of “operational readiness.” They declined to say how many were removed or whether the action marked a change in policy.
When switched on, the speakers can be heard several kilometers into the North. Pyongyang has repeatedly threatened retaliation, and past flare-ups around the systems have sparked exchanges of fire.
Analysts say the move is a signal of de-escalation, though Seoul has avoided framing it as a peace gesture. “It’s a low-key way to leave space for talks without taking political risks,” said one Seoul-based security expert.
The step comes after renewed tensions caused by South Korean activists sending balloons with leaflets, USB sticks and food across the border — a tactic that has previously led to violent responses from the North.
For now, the dismantling is partial and temporary silence hangs over some areas of the DMZ. Whether Pyongyang answers in kind is unclear. In the past, overtures from Seoul have been met with either silence or fresh missile tests.
