South Korea begins removing loudspeakers along border with North

Seoul [South Korea], August 5: The South Korean military on Monday began dismantling loudspeakers used for propaganda broadcasts along the border with North Korea, local media reported, citing the Defence Ministry in Seoul.
The ministry said the move was intended to help calm tensions between Seoul and Pyongyang, the official Yonhap news agency reported.
"It is a practical measure that can help ease inter-Korean tensions without affecting the military's readiness posture," Yonhap quoted the ministry as saying in a notice to reporters.
The dismantling follows orders from President Lee Jae Myung, who took office in June and days later ordered the suspension of loudspeaker broadcasts as part of a shift towards a more diplomatic approach after years of hardline policies under his conservative predecessor Yoon Suk Yeol.
The loudspeakers had been in operation for over a year, broadcasting political news programmes and pop music to South Korea's isolated northern neighbour. The measure was a reaction to hundreds of balloons filled with refuse sent over the border by Pyongyang.
Tensions on the Korean Peninsula have risen over recent years, with Pyongyang modernizing its nuclear and missile programme at a rapid rate. It has also entered into military cooperation with Russia, supporting Moscow with troops and ammunition.
Source: Qatar Tribune