**The ongoing tension between North and South Korea persists as North Korea's Kim Yo Jong asserts that the country has never removed its propaganda broadcasting devices.**
**N. Korea Rubbishes Claims of Propaganda Loudspeaker Removal**
**N. Korea Rubbishes Claims of Propaganda Loudspeaker Removal**
**North Korea firmly denies allegations from South Korea regarding the removal of border propaganda loudspeakers.**
North Korea's response to South Korea's claims of removing propaganda loudspeakers along their border has been one of denials and strong statements. Kim Yo Jong, sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, asserted on Thursday, via state media KCNA, that the North has "never removed" its speakers and shows no intention of doing so. This declaration counters South Korea's military statements from earlier this week, which suggested that some loudspeakers had been dismantled shortly after South Korea also reduced its own broadcasts.
In her statement, Kim Yo Jong emphasized that Pyongyang holds no desire to improve relations with South Korea, declaring their position will eventually be enshrined in the constitution. Her remarks came in the wake of accusations from Seoul, which she labeled as "unfounded unilateral supposition" and a distraction from larger issues.
The situation is amplified by the nature of the broadcasts: South Korea's speakers often play popular K-pop songs, while North Korea traditionally emits more disturbing sounds, including howling animals. This auditory confrontation has stirred complaints from residents near the border, who find the incessant noise disruptive at all hours.
Historically, North Korea views South Korean propaganda as a hostile act, threatening to destroy the loudspeakers in the past. In June 2024, amid rising tensions that led to changes in administration in South Korea, the country resumed its broadcasts after a six-year hiatus. North Korea reacted with provocations, including sending balloons filled with waste into the South, reflecting the ongoing cycle of tension.
Under newly elected South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, however, there had been a slight thaw in relations, with inter-Korean ties appearing to warm. The South halted broadcasts shortly after Lee took office in June, intended as a gesture to "restore trust" and promote peace on the Korean Peninsula.
Despite these attempts, the relationship continues to be fraught, with North Korea recently issuing threats of "resolute counteraction" against perceived provocations in light of imminent joint military exercises by South Korea and the United States. The conflict along the Korean border remains a palpable concern, underscored by the continued use of propaganda as a weapon in both nations' political arsenals.
