"Loudspeakers Toward North Not Ruled Out": A Visit to the Border Area

[Anchor]

North Korea's Kim Yo-jong threatened yesterday (October 19) to review resuming loudspeaker broadcasts directed at South Korea. South Korean military authorities also stated that they do not rule out responding with loudspeaker broadcasts toward the North if Pyongyang resumes its broadcasts.

As tensions escalate along the border, residents' anxiety is growing as well. Reporter Kim Ayeong visited the scene.

[Reporter]

This is the view looking toward North Korea's Gaepung County from the Odusan Unification Observatory in Paju, Gyeonggi Province, this afternoon.

Loudspeaker facilities directed toward South Korea, stacked like towers with speakers, were captured by SBS cameras.

No broadcasts are being aired yet.

Last year, the South Korean government was the first to halt anti-North loudspeaker broadcasts as a trust-building measure.

North Korea, which had been broadcasting noise toward the South, also turned off its broadcasts in response.

Yesterday, North Korea's Kim Yo-jong took issue with the South Korean military's warning broadcasts and warning shots along the Military Demarcation Line, going so far as to raise the prospect of reviewing the resumption of loudspeaker broadcasts.

This was interpreted as a warning not to interfere with North Korea's so-called "border fortification" project.

[Hong Min / Senior Research Fellow, Korea Institute for National Unification: It appears there is a strong intention to assess the situation and apply pressure to concentrate on the remaining workload as much as possible before entering the winter season.]

Residents of border areas are already deeply worried.

North Korea's loudspeaker broadcasts toward South Korea operate by blasting deafening noise to prevent North Korean residents and soldiers from hearing South Korea's loudspeaker broadcasts.

For residents who suffered from agonizing noise for nearly a year starting in July two years ago, it is a memory they never wish to revisit.

[Shin / Resident of Paju, Gyeonggi Province: Ghost-like sounds played continuously. Children and people living nearby couldn't sleep. Daily life was severely disrupted, and many talked about moving away. If they do that again? Living here will be truly unbearable.]

Expressing "grave concern," the Ministry of National Defense stated that it would resolutely punish North Korea if it conducts further provocations.

[Jeong Bit-na / Ministry of National Defense Spokesperson: Warning broadcasts and warning shots are legitimate defensive measures aimed at preventing North Korean troops from violating the Military Demarcation Line and repelling forces that have crossed.]

A Ministry of National Defense official remarked that if North Korea resumes its loudspeaker broadcasts, "wouldn't we also need a proportional response?" adding that "we are not ruling out any options."

This signals that Seoul is keeping open the possibility of resuming loudspeaker broadcasts directed at North Korea. If Pyongyang resumes broadcasting and South Korea responds in kind, tensions along the border will inevitably intensify.

(Video by Park Hyeon-cheol | Video Editing by Jeong Seong-hoon)

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