In a move that has heightened tensions on the Korean Peninsula, South Korea has decided to reinstall propaganda loudspeakers in the De-Militarized Zone (DMZ). This decision comes after North Korea sent balloons filled with garbage into South Korea. The loudspeakers will broadcast K-pop songs, and messages about South Korea’s democracy, freedom of speech, development, and economic prosperity to North Korean soldiers and residents near the border.
“In 2018, both North and South Korea agreed to a peace treaty that included the removal of these loudspeakers from the DMZ. This agreement also halted military drills and flights of fighter jets over the DMZ. The DMZ, a 350-kilometer-long buffer zone, was established between the two countries after the Korean War (1950-53). This zone extends five kilometers into each country,” explains Neeraj Rajput, senior war correspondent.
According to Rajput, who is the only Indian to have reported from the DMZ, “The use of loudspeakers in the DMZ is not new. Both countries had previously used them to influence each other’s soldiers, but they were removed as part of the 2018 peace efforts. However, the recent actions by North Korea, which include sending large balloons filled with filth into South Korea, have prompted a strong response. These balloons have even reached the streets of Seoul, the South Korean capital.”
According to reports in the public domain, North Korea claims that South Korea is smuggling K-pop and K-dramas into their country using CDs and pen drives. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un views South Korea’s capitalist lifestyle and ideology as harmful to his regime. In retaliation, he has ordered the launch of these garbage-filled balloons into South Korea.
The situation on the Korean Peninsula has been tense for months. Kim Jong Un has resumed testing ballistic missiles and conducting provocative military maneuvers near the DMZ. In response, South Korea has increased its military exercises with the United States. Recently, the US sent a nuclear submarine to South Korea’s Busan port, signaling strong support for its ally. Adding to the tension, Russian President Vladimir Putin is planning a visit to North Korea soon.
The exchange of animal excreta filled balloons from North Korea and propaganda broadcasts from South Korea continues, with reports of clashes between the soldiers of the two nations.
South Korean soldiers reportedly fired shots at North Korean soldiers who crossed the DMZ border. According to South Korea’s Joint Chief of Staff, Lee Sung Jun, “On Sunday afternoon, some North Korean soldiers crossed the DMZ into our jurisdiction with construction equipment and weapons. After they ignored warnings, precautionary firing was done, and they retreated.”
South Korea has downplayed the incident, suggesting that the North Korean soldiers may have crossed the DMZ by mistake. However, this clash occurred during a period of heightened tension, with North Korea consistently sending garbage-filled balloons to the South. In retaliation, South Korea has resumed loudspeaker broadcasts aimed at provoking Kim Jong Un.
Kim Jong Un’s sister, Kim Yo Jong, has condemned South Korea’s loudspeaker broadcasts, calling them a provocation that increases the “crisis of confrontation.” She warned that these actions create a dangerous situation, as the broadcasts can influence North Korean soldiers and residents near the border. In the past, North Korea has even fired artillery at South Korean loudspeakers, to which South Korea responded in kind.
Despite the recent clash and the precautionary shots fired by South Korean soldiers, North Korea has not yet retaliated. However, observers believe that Kim Jong Un is unlikely to remain silent in the face of such actions. The situation on the Korean Peninsula remains volatile, with the potential for further escalations.