South Korea resumed loudspeaker broadcasts directed at North Korea, its military said, following through on a warning demanding Pyongyang stop sending balloons carrying trash into the South.

Seoul

South Korea's military has resumed loudspeaker broadcasts directed at North Korea. This action follows North Korea's recent activity of sending balloons carrying trash into South Korea. In a video released by the military, trucks and soldiers were seen setting up loudspeakers, which marks the first such exercise since 2018. The location and date of the training were not disclosed.

According to the South Korean military, about 330 balloons launched by North Korea, with roughly 80 of them crossing the border. The loudspeaker broadcasts are part of a psychological warfare strategy and include world news, information about democratic and capitalist societies, and popular K-pop music. The sound from these broadcasts is said to reach more than 12 miles into North Korea.

Kim Suk-kyung, a presidential spokesperson, stated that the measures could be unbearable for the North Korean regime but are intended to send a message of hope to North Korean troops and civilians. The loudspeaker broadcasts were discontinued in 2018 following a bilateral agreement, but increasing tensions due to North Korea's weapons development have led to their resumption.

North Korea's balloon-sending activity, which started in retaliation to anti-North leaflets sent by South Korean activists, has involved trash and manure. Pyongyang has shown strong negative reactions to both the leaflet campaigns and loudspeaker broadcasts, including firing weapons at the objects.



South Korea blasts loudspeaker broadcasts at the North

South Korean military said it resumed loudspeaker broadcasts directed at North Korea on Sunday after Pyongyang sent more balloons carrying trash into the South. In a video provided by the military on Sunday, trucks were shown carrying loudspeakers and soldiers assembling them in a training exercise. The military said it was the first such training since 2018. The location and date of the training were not disclosed. The decision to resume the broadcasts as a form of psychological warfare was made after North Korea began launching about 330 balloons with trash attached a day before, with about 80 of them dropping over the border. That's according to South Korea's military. South Korea's broadcasts include world news and information about democratic and capitalist society with a mix of popular K-pop music. The sound is believed to travel more than 12 miles into North Korea. Kim Suk-kyung is a presidential spokesperson. The measures we will take may be unbearable for the North Korean regime, but they will send a message of hope and light to the North's troops and its people. Pyongyang started sending balloons carrying trash and manure across the border in May. It is said the move was in retaliation for anti-North leaflets flown by South Korean activists as part of a propaganda campaign. North Korea has shown some of the angriest reactions towards the leaflet campaign and the loudspeaker broadcasts, in some cases firing weapons at the balloons and speakers. South Korea stopped the broadcasts under an agreement signed by the two Korea's leaders in 2018, but tensions have mounted since then as Pyongyang pushed ahead with weapons development.

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