North Korean soldiers briefly crossed the Military Demarcation Line (MDL) in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) on Tuesday, prompting warning shots from South Korea. The incident follows recent tensions between the two Koreas, including North Korea sending trash balloons and threatening to reinstall loudspeakers near the border. South Korea has suspended a tension-reducing military deal and resumed loudspeaker propaganda broadcasts in response.
South Korea has resumed loudspeaker broadcasts directed at North Korea, warning that the measures would be “unbearable” for the Kim Jong Un regime. The decision came after North Korea resumed sending balloons carrying trash across the border, prompting a strong response from Seoul. The broadcasts, which have been halted since 2018, will include world news, information about democratic and capitalist society, and popular K-pop music. South Korea believes the sound will travel more than 20 kilometers into North Korea and send a message of hope and light to the North’s troops and people.
North Korea has resumed sending balloons carrying trash over the border to South Korea, in retaliation to anti-North leaflets flown from the South. South Korea has warned it will take ‘unendurable’ measures against the North for sending the trash balloons, which could include blaring propaganda broadcasts from huge loudspeakers set up at the border directed at the North.
North Korea has once again launched hundreds of trash-carrying balloons into South Korea, marking the third such campaign since May 28. In retaliation to South Korean civilian leafletting activities, North Korea has sent over 1,000 balloons carrying garbage and manure across the border. South Korea has responded by suspending a 2018 agreement with North Korea, allowing the South to resume military exercises and loudspeaker broadcasts near the border. The balloon launches have heightened tensions between the war-divided rivals, who are already facing a diplomatic impasse over North Korea’s nuclear ambitions.
