Clashes or Disputes - South Korea opts for aggressive propaganda avalanche towards North Korea
In response to mounting tensions with North Korea, South Korea plans to initiate psychological warfare and conduct propaganda broadcasts to the isolated neighboring country. The military will deploy loudspeaker systems at the border on Sunday and commence transmitting messages toward North Korea, as announced by the presidential office in Seoul after an urgent National Security Council meeting.
This move comes in direct response to North Korea's recent sending of hundreds of balloons filled with trash over the heavily militarized border. In the past, South Korea had previously sent music or criticized North Korean leadership across the border. The broadcast range was more than 20 kilometers.
The Security Council participants blamed North Korea for attempting to create chaos and confusion within the South with its behavior. As a result, South Korea will retaliate against the balloon actions. "We firmly establish that North Korea is solely responsible for any escalation of tensions between the two nations," they stated.
Broadcasting was once seen as a remnant of the Cold War era
Following a summit meeting between former South Korean President Moon Jae In and North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un six years ago, loudspeaker systems on both sides of the border were removed. The bi-lateral broadcasting was also considered a vestige of the Cold War.
Not long ago, South Korea suspended a mutual military agreement from 2018 on border-building measures, paving the way for the resumption of military drills near the Military Demarcation Line and the broadcasts. North Korea, which asserts South Korea's hostility, had earlier declared the agreement null and void in November. It remained uncertain whether North Korea would restart the loudspeaker propaganda.
North Korea again sent numerous balloons filled with trash. Between Saturday and Sunday, about 330 "trash balloons" from North Korea were launched, the South Korean General Staff disclosed. Of these, over 80 landed on South Korean soil. The rest likely did not reach their intended destination. Containers attached to the balloons contained items such as old paper and plastic. Initial inquiries revealed that they were free of harmful substances, it was noted.
North Korea's balloon actions as a reaction to South Korean groups
North Korea's balloon actions serve as a response to activities by South Korean groups that routinely employ large balloons to distribute propaganda materials across the border. These leaflets critique North Korean leadership. The operations of these groups, some of which were created by North Korean defectors, have been debated in South Korea.
As reported by South Korean media outlets, two different groups carried out leaflet efforts on Thursday and Friday. North Korea typically reacts sensitively to outside propaganda. Since late May, North Korea has sent more than 1000 balloons filled with waste and, at times, human feces to South Korea. South Korea has also accused its neighbor of repeatedly disrupting the GPS navigation system in the border area.
Following a period of de-escalation, the conflict on the Korean Peninsula has intensified significantly in recent times. Since the start of 2022, North Korea has been testing nuclear-capable rockets and other weapons at an accelerated pace. South Korea and the United States have strengthened their military cooperation.
