On Sunday, South Korea resumed its loudspeaker propaganda campaign towards North Korea, condemning the recent actions of Pyongyang. The Joint Chiefs of Staff confirmed that the broadcast started in response to North Korea’s sending of 330 new balloons filled with garbage the day before. The continuation of the broadcast will depend on North Korea’s actions.
The balloon launches do not violate UN sanctions, but they have intensified the conflict between the two Koreas. Analysts are concerned that this escalation could lead to actual military clashes. President Yoon Suk Yeol has already suspended a detente military agreement from 2018 following these incidents.
South Korean army confirmed that around 330 balloons filled with rubbish were sent by North Korea the day before. It urged citizens to stay away from these balloons and report any sightings to authorities. The suspension of the 2018 agreement allows South Korea to resume live-fire exercises and propaganda campaigns through loudspeakers along the border.
The resumption of propaganda via loudspeakers has drawn criticism from the opposition party in South Korea. They accused the government of compromising people’s security by allowing these actions. There are concerns that the escalation of tensions could lead to armed conflict or provoke retaliation from North Korea. Analysts fear that the situation could spiral into a regional war if not managed carefully.
