South Korea has intensified its propaganda broadcasts along the border with North Korea after the North launched another round of balloons across the border. This development has further escalated tensions between the two countries, which have already been high.
The latest incident occurred on Sunday, when balloons from North Korea were seen flying north of Seoul. In response, South Korea’s military has increased the volume and frequency of loudspeaker broadcasts along the 154-mile-long border. These broadcasts include a mix of K-pop music and news, aimed at demoralizing North Korean troops and residents near the border.
“The North Korean military’s tension-escalating acts can result in causing critical consequences for it,” said the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff in a statement. “The responsibility for this kind of situation is entirely on North Korea’s government.”
South Korea had resumed these broadcasts on Thursday after a 40-day pause, following an earlier round of balloon launches by the North. The broadcasts criticize the North Korean regime and highlight news that the North Korean government would likely want to keep from its citizens.
North Korea’s recent balloon activities, which have included sending waste paper, cigarette butts, and even manure, are viewed as a form of psychological warfare. These activities began as a response to South Korean activists sending political leaflets to North Korea via balloons.
In the past, such actions have led to serious military confrontations. In 2015, North Korea fired artillery across the border in response to South Korean loudspeaker broadcasts, leading to a brief exchange of fire.
The current situation has raised concerns about potential physical provocations from North Korea. South Korean military officials have warned that the North might resort to more aggressive actions, such as shooting at balloons or planting mines.
In a statement last week, Kim Yo Jong, the powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, threatened severe retaliation against South Korea over the leafleting activities. She stated that those responsible should be ready to pay “a gruesome and dear price.”
In response to the escalating tensions, South Korea has suspended a 2018 agreement with North Korea aimed at reducing military tensions. This suspension allows South Korea to resume its propaganda broadcasts and conduct military drills near the border.
The ongoing psychological battle between the two Koreas underscores the fragile nature of peace on the peninsula and the constant risk of escalation into more severe conflict.