Overview

• South Korea’s military has started dismantling roughly 20 fixed loudspeakers along the DMZ this week under orders from President Lee Jae Myung, with removals set to finish by week’s end.
• The action follows Lee’s June 11 directive to halt anti-Pyongyang broadcasts and is described by the Defense Ministry as a practical measure to ease tensions without affecting military readiness.
• No prior consultations were held with North Korea before the dismantling began, highlighting Seoul’s unilateral push for de-escalation.
• South Korean monitors report that North Korea’s own loudspeakers remain intact, with maintenance activity observed but no signs of removal.
• Kim Yo Jong condemned the gesture as a serious miscalculation, reiterating Pyongyang’s refusal to engage in dialogue under current conditions.