North Korea has finally fallen silent

Relief in South Korea: North Korea has stopped broadcasting strange noises. Intriguing and sometimes frightening sounds were disturbing people living near the border regions. South Korea preferred music.

Good news for the peace and quiet of those living close to the demilitarised border between the two Koreas. The loudspeakers are on pause. In 2024, North Korea set up loudspeakers to broadcast noises at all hours of the day and night. In response, South Korea did the same (see photo), but it sent out K-Pop music (is that less frightening?) and news bulletins instead.

Silence in stereo

The new South Korean president Lee Jae-myung promised to try to rebuild a "trusting relationship" with Pyongyang. Seoul then took the initiative to stop broadcasting music and propaganda. In return, North Korea is also thought to have switched off its loudspeakers. Silence seems to have returned since the last broadcast was heard on Wednesday 11 June at around 6pm (local time) on Ganghwa Island northwest of Seoul, very near the border with the North. In other regions, noises and broadcasts had already ceased.

(MH with Olivier Duquesne – Source: Belga – Picture: © picture alliance / YONHAPNEWS AGENCY | Yonhap)