Overview

• About 20 fixed loudspeakers installed along the demilitarized zone began coming down Monday, with the Defense Ministry planning to finish by week’s end.
• The dismantling follows President Lee Jae Myung’s June directive to suspend anti-North broadcasts as part of efforts to rebuild inter-Korean trust.
• Defense Ministry spokesperson Lee Kyung-ho described the physical take-down as a measured step to ease border tensions without affecting military readiness.
• Seoul carried out the removal unilaterally, with no prior consultations and no sign that North Korea plans to reciprocate.
• Pyongyang halted its own noise-blasting campaign after South Korea’s broadcast suspension but continues to reject dialogue, according to statements from Kim Yo Jong.