Latest news with #ColdWar-style
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
North Korea appears to stop loudspeaker broadcasts toward the South
SEOUL, June 12 (UPI) -- North Korea appears to have stopped broadcasting loud noises towards the South, Seoul's military said Thursday, one day after South Korea halted its anti-Pyongyang loudspeaker campaign near the demilitarized zone. "Today, there were no areas where North Korea's noise broadcasts to the South were heard," the Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a text message to reporters. The North had been broadcasting bizarre noises such as metallic screeching and animal sounds since last year, as Cold War-style provocations escalated along the inter-Korean border. Newly elected South Korean President Lee Jae-myung has vowed to lower tensions with Pyongyang, and on Wednesday ordered the suspension of the South's propaganda broadcasts of K-pop, news and information across the border. Lee's office said that the move was made "to ease the military standoff between the South and the North and to open the way to restoring mutual trust." It was also meant to "alleviate the suffering of residents in border areas who have suffered due to North Korea's noise broadcasts," spokeswoman Kang Yoo-jung said in a briefing Wednesday. Seoul resumed the propaganda broadcasts roughly one year ago in response to a series of provocations by North Korea that included floating thousands of trash-filled balloons across the border. Lee, who won a snap election on June 3 to replace impeached former President Yoon Suk Yeol, vowed during his campaign to suspend the loudspeaker broadcasts as well as prevent defector groups from floating balloons with anti-Pyongyang leaflets and USB drives over the border. On Thursday, Lee pledged to swiftly restore communication channels with the North. "We will stop wasteful hostilities and resume dialogue and cooperation," he said in a speech marking the 25th anniversary of the first inter-Korean summit between former South Korean President Kim Dae-jung and North Korean leader Kim Jong Il. "We will restore the crisis management system that prevents accidental clashes and avoids heightening tensions," Lee said in the speech, which was read on his behalf by a senior official at a commemorative event in Seoul. "To this end, we will strive to quickly restore the inter-Korean dialogue channels." The two Koreas reestablished a military hotline in 2018 during a period of detente. However, the North stopped answering the daily calls in 2023 as relations soured amid expanded U.S.-South Korea joint military exercises and a hardline stance by former President Yoon.
UPI
12-06-2025
- Politics
- UPI
North Korea appears to stop loudspeaker broadcasts toward the South
North Korea appears to have stopped broadcasting loud noises along border areas with the South, Seoul's Joint Chiefs of Staff said Thursday. The move came one day after South Korea suspended propaganda loudspeaker broadcasts at the DMZ. File Photo by Thomas Maresca/UPI | License Photo SEOUL, June 12 (UPI) -- North Korea appears to have stopped broadcasting loud noises towards the South, Seoul's military said Thursday, one day after South Korea halted its anti-Pyongyang loudspeaker campaign near the demilitarized zone. "Today, there were no areas where North Korea's noise broadcasts to the South were heard," the Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a text message to reporters. The North had been broadcasting bizarre noises such as metallic screeching and animal sounds since last year, as Cold War-style provocations escalated along the inter-Korean border. Newly elected South Korean President Lee Jae-myung has vowed to lower tensions with Pyongyang, and on Wednesday ordered the suspension of the South's propaganda broadcasts of K-pop, news and information across the border. Lee's office said that the move was made "to ease the military standoff between the South and the North and to open the way to restoring mutual trust." It was also meant to "alleviate the suffering of residents in border areas who have suffered due to North Korea's noise broadcasts," spokeswoman Kang Yoo-jung said in a briefing Wednesday. Seoul resumed the propaganda broadcasts roughly one year ago in response to a series of provocations by North Korea that included floating thousands of trash-filled balloons across the border. Lee, who won a snap election on June 3 to replace impeached former President Yoon Suk Yeol, vowed during his campaign to suspend the loudspeaker broadcasts as well as prevent defector groups from floating balloons with anti-Pyongyang leaflets and USB drives over the border. On Thursday, Lee pledged to swiftly restore communication channels with the North. "We will stop wasteful hostilities and resume dialogue and cooperation," he said in a speech marking the 25th anniversary of the first inter-Korean summit between former South Korean President Kim Dae-jung and North Korean leader Kim Jong Il. "We will restore the crisis management system that prevents accidental clashes and avoids heightening tensions," Lee said in the speech, which was read on his behalf by a senior official at a commemorative event in Seoul. "To this end, we will strive to quickly restore the inter-Korean dialogue channels." The two Koreas reestablished a military hotline in 2018 during a period of detente. However, the North stopped answering the daily calls in 2023 as relations soured amid expanded U.S.-South Korea joint military exercises and a hardline stance by former President Yoon.
The Wire
12-06-2025
- Politics
- The Wire
‘Proactive Step': South Korea Halts Anti-North Propaganda Broadcasts Along Border
Menu हिंदी తెలుగు اردو Home Politics Economy World Security Law Science Society Culture Editor's Pick Opinion Support independent journalism. Donate Now World 'Proactive Step': South Korea Halts Anti-North Propaganda Broadcasts Along Border DW 42 minutes ago South Korea's President Lee Jae-myung ordered the discontinuation of the loudspeakers to "promote peace on the Korean Peninsula." In return, Pyongyang appears to have stopped its loudspeakers near the border. South Korea president Lee Jae-myung. Photo: AP/PTI. Real journalism holds power accountable Since 2015, The Wire has done just that. But we can continue only with your support. Contribute now South Korea's military shut down loudspeaker blasting propaganda against North Korea along the border on Wednesday, marking newly elected President Lee Jae-myung's first major step to reduce cross-border tensions. On Thursday, South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said, in return, the North appears to have stopped its loudspeakers near the border targeting the South. Although, it remains unclear if Pyongyang has officially ended its campaign. South Korea's President Lee Jae-myung had made the discontinuation of the loudspeakers a campaign promise, so as 'to restore trust in inter-Korean relations and promote peace on the Korean Peninsula.' Kang Yu-jung, Lee's spokesperson, described the decision as a 'proactive step' to reduce military tensions in the region. Engaging in psychological warfare The broadcasts, which included propaganda messages and K-pop music, had resumed in June 2024 after North Korea launched thousands of trash-filled balloons toward the South in a psychological campaign. In retaliation, Pyongyang began its own blaring broadcasts featuring howling animals, pounding gongs and other irritating sounds. Residents near the border had long complained about the noise from both sides. Seoul looks to reopen communication The broadcasts were part of a Cold War-style standoff that escalated alongside North Korea's nuclear weapons development and closer military ties with Russia. In his inaugural address last week, Lee vowed to reopen communication channels with North Korea. However, the road forward remains uncertain as Pyongyang continues to reject diplomatic overtures. In recent years, nuclear-armed North Korea has grown closer to Moscow, reportedly supplying thousands of troops and large quantities of military equipment to support Russia's war in Ukraine. There are growing concerns that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's deepening ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin could result in technology transfers that would bolster North Korea's nuclear weapons and missile programs. This report first appeared on DW. The Wire is now on WhatsApp. Follow our channel for sharp analysis and opinions on the latest developments. Make a contribution to Independent Journalism Related News Israel's Evacuation of Palestinians from North Gaza Hints at a Particularly Ominous Plan Has Development in Northeast India Undermined Its Environmental Sustainability? The Search for the 'Bandung Spirit' Group of Nine Nations to Formulate 'Concrete' Legal, Diplomatic Measures Against Israel Violent Pakistan Storms Trigger Floods, Landslides Killing At Least 10 Trump and the Fantasy of a 'White Genocide' Trump's Afrikaners are South African Opportunists, Not Refugees: What's Behind the US Move G20 Is Too Elite. There's a Way To Fix That Though – Economists US Mediation in India-Pak Conflict Could Be a Double-Edged Sword View in Desktop Mode About Us Contact Us Support Us © Copyright. All Rights Reserved.
DW
12-06-2025
- Politics
- DW
South Korea halts propaganda broadcasts along border – DW – 06/12/2025
South Korea's President Lee Jae-myung ordered the discontinuation of the loudspeakers to "promote peace on the Korean Peninsula." In return, Pyongyang appears to have stopped its loudspeakers near the border. South Korea's military shut down loudspeaker blasting propaganda against North Korea along the border on Wednesday, marking newly elected President Lee Jae-myung's first major step to reduce cross-border tensions. On Thursday, South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said, in return, the North appears to have stopped its loudspeakers near the border targeting the South. Although, it remains unclear if Pyongyang has officially ended its campaign. South Korea's President Lee Jae-myung had made the discontinuation of the loudspeakers a campaign promise, so as "to restore trust in inter-Korean relations and promote peace on the Korean Peninsula." Kang Yu-jung, Lee's spokesperson, described the decision as a "proactive step" to reduce military tensions in the region. Engaging in psychological warfare The broadcasts, which included propaganda messages and K-pop music, had resumed in June 2024 after North Korea launched thousands of trash-filled balloons toward the South in a psychological campaign. In retaliation, Pyongyang began its own blaring broadcasts featuring howling animals, pounding gongs and other irritating sounds. Residents near the border had long complained about the noise from both sides. Seoul said North Korean loudspeaker broadcasts were not heard on Thursday Image: Im Sun-suk/Yonhap via AP/picture alliance Seoul looks to reopen communication The broadcasts were part of a Cold War-style standoff that escalated alongside North Korea's nuclear weapons development and closer military ties with Russia. In his inaugural address last week, Lee vowed to reopen communication channels with North Korea. However, the road forward remains uncertain as Pyongyang continues to reject diplomatic overtures. In recent years, nuclear-armed North Korea has grown closer to Moscow, reportedly supplying thousands of troops and large quantities of military equipment to support Russia's war in Ukraine. There are growing concerns that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's deepening ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin could result in technology transfers that would bolster North Korea's nuclear weapons and missile programs.
Euronews
11-06-2025
- Politics
- Euronews
South Korea halts anti-North loudspeaker broadcasts along border
South Korea's military said on Wednesday it had stopped broadcasting anti-North Korea propaganda through loudspeakers along the border, as part of the new liberal government's bid to ease tensions and "restore trust" between the rivals. The move fulfilled a campaign promise from South Korea's new liberal president, Lee Jae-myung, who took office last week after winning an early election to replace ousted conservative Yoon Suk Yeol. Lee has vowed to improve relations with Pyongyang, which reacted furiously to Yoon's hardline policies and shunned dialogue with Seoul as a result. South Korea's defence ministry said suspending the broadcasts was part of efforts "to restore trust in inter-Korean relations and promote peace on the Korean Peninsula". North Korea, which is extremely sensitive to any outside criticism of its authoritarian leadership and its ruler, Kim Jong-un, has not commented on the move by Seoul. The broadcasts had previously been paused for six years, but they resumed in June last year in retaliation for North Korea flying rubbish-filled balloons over the border. Between May and November last year, North Korea flew about 7,000 balloons toward South Korea in 32 separate events to drop substances such as wastepaper, cloth scraps, cigarette butts and even manure, according to Seoul. Pyongyang said that its balloon campaign came after South Korean activists sent over balloons filled with anti-North Korean leaflets, as well as USB sticks filled with songs and dramas popular in the South. The Cold War-style psychological warfare campaigns added to tensions fuelled by North Korea's growing nuclear ambitions and South Korean efforts to expand joint military exercises with the US and bolster three-way security cooperation with Japan. During the recent South Korean election campaign, Lee promised to halt the broadcasts, arguing that they created unnecessary tensions and discomfort for residents in border towns in the South. Those residents had complained about North Korea's retaliatory broadcasts, which included howling animals, pounding gongs and other irritating sounds. In a briefing on Monday, South Korea's unification ministry also called for civilian activists in the country to stop flying anti-North propaganda leaflets across the border. Such activities "could heighten tensions on the Korean Peninsula and threaten the lives and safety of residents in border areas," a spokesperson for the ministry said. Despite Lee's vow to reopen communication channels with Pyongyang, the likelihood of an early resumption of dialogue between the rivals remains low. North Korea has consistently rejected such offers from the South and the US since 2019, when nuclear talks between Washington and Pyongyang collapsed over sanctions-related disputes. Pyongyang's foreign policy priority is now with Russia, which has received thousands of North Korean troops and large amounts of military equipment in recent months for its war with Ukraine.
