The South Korean government decided to resume loudspeaker broadcasts toward North Korea on the 9th in response to a series of provocations, including the third release of propaganda balloons by North Korea.
The loudspeaker broadcasts towards North Korea was previously used as a measure in response to significant provocations from North Korea during the Lee Myung-Bak and Park Geun Hye administrations, such as the ROKS Cheonan sinking in 2010, the landmine provocation in 2015, and North Korea’s fourth nuclear test in 2016.
Some have criticized the government’s decision to resume broadcasts as an excessive countermeasure following the recent propaganda balloon incident. In particular, these critics point out that the residents living in the border areas adjacent to North Korea are living in fear. It has been suggested that resuming loudspeaker broadcasts could provoke a stronger response from North Korea. However, the intention of the presidential office is seen as an effort to send a clear warning message to North Korea on this occasion.
“Even though the measures we take may be complex for the North Korean regime to tolerate, they will bring good news to North Korea’s military and residents,” the South Korean presidential office stated. The resumed loudspeaker broadcasts towards North Korea now cover a variety of topics. Previously, these broadcasts primarily shared political content to encourage defections from the North Korean army. However, since the 2010s, the content has expanded to include South Korean news and popular music. These broadcasts are transmitted through loudspeakers, powerful enough to be heard up to 12.4 miles away.
This strategy utilizes psychological warfare, which North Korea fears the most. Park Sang Hak, the head of the defector organization called Free North Korea Movement, who used to lead leaflet distribution towards North, once said, “What Kim Jong Un fears most is not U.S. aircraft carriers, but the people who stand up with the truth.” Loudspeaker broadcasts, including leaflets towards North Korea, have the effect of exposing the reality of the North Korean regime to the North Korean military and residents in the border areas. They cause deep emotional turmoil among the frontline soldiers and residents of North Korea, amplifying doubts about the regime.
As a result, the North Korean leadership, which prioritizes regime maintenance, regards the loudspeaker broadcasts towards North Korea as a threat to the regime. In 2015, North Korea fired one anti-aircraft gun and three direct-fire weapons toward the loudspeakers placed at the frontline by South Korea. How North Korea will respond to the presidential office’s decision to resume loudspeaker broadcasts is uncertain. Still, there is a high possibility that it will pull out a stronger provocation card.
Public opinion is divided over the government’s tit-for-tat response to North Korea’s provocations. Regardless, the government must make a careful decision, with the safety of its citizens as its top priority. It’s time for the public to face the harsh reality of division between North and South Korea.
Most Commented