Suddenly, the unbearable noise of the speakers has stopped

The story between the two Koreas has been full of disagreements. Let’s put as an example the last twelve months: South Korea received a rain of balloons loaded with garbage, and reply to the “neighbor” arrived in drones and propagandato which “the north” replied marking the enemy in the very constitution. North’s revenge was a noise -shaped rumble, and the south was no less with an infinite playlist of K-Pop.

And, suddenly, one of the two has taken the white flag, and the other has followed him.

Silence on the border. In what could be considered as a historical fact, a symbolic and strategic turn towards reconciliation, South Korea has off the speakers of propaganda that during the last year transmitted K-pop songs without stopping next to ideological news and messages through the border with North Korea. The decision, taken by the New President South Korean Lee Jae-Myung, marks one of his first specific steps to lower tensions Between Seoul and Pyongyang, after years of deterioration Under his predecessor, Yoon Suk Yeol.

The measure intends to restore Trust channels and dialogue in a peninsula that follows Technically at war Since 1953. As explained by its spokesman, the suspension seeks to “restore confidence in intercorean relationships and build peace in the Korean Peninsula.”

The War of Sound. We already said it at the beginning. The previous policy had resulted in a peculiar climbingbut the most intense: while South Korea used high -power speakers to broad Sound equipmentgenerating disturbing noises that affected everyday life in border South Korean villages.

He counted The New York Times That, to protect themselves from noise, many residents installed windows with double glazing and insulation systems. In turn, the conflict moved to heaven, with South Korean activists (many northern deserters) Sending balloons Loaded with critical pamphlets to Pyongyang, to which the North Korean regime replied with balloons Full of plillas and garbage. This dynamic of mutual reprisals further aggravated a relationship already marked by hostility and distrust.

Change of course. The former president Yoon Suk Yeol, deposed after imposing Briefly martial law in December and accused of promoting conflict with North Korea, had promoted the Use of propaganda as a means to undermine Kim Jong-un informative control. His government not only defended the speakers, but also encouraged Balloon sending as part of an ideological offensive in the name of freedom of expression.

In contrast, Lee Jae-Myung, chosen in part for his promise to reduce tensions, has asked activists to cease in launch of pamphlets, arguing that these actions do not improve North Korean access to external information, but also raise the risk of Armed reprisals and endanger the southern border communities.

Strategic pragmatism. On the other hand, human rights organizations and activists They have criticized harshly the decisions of the new government, accusing him of giving in to Pyongyang and limiting freedom of expression in South Korea. They argue that, by interrupting the speakers and discouraging the balloons, citizens of the north of one of the few access as possible to outside world information.

For its part, the South Korean government has indicated that it could resort Aviation laws and public safety to prevent these practices, considering that they raise the risk of direct confrontation and endanger local inhabitants, who in many cases have expressed their relief due to the recent sound calm on the border.

There is truce, but fragile. It is the last of the legs to analyze. North Korea’s reaction to this gesture of distension has not been immediate, although the next day It also ceased Its own speaker transmissions, which suggests a positive response, at least momentary.

However, the general context continues to be tense. Under the leadership of Kim Jong-un, the regime It has hardened his position to the south, openly declaring that does not seek reunification And that will treat South Korea As an enemy To defeat in case of war. In addition to cutting all land ties between the two countries, North Korea has intensified their essays With nuclear missiles and has rejected all kinds of dialogue with Seoul and Washington.

A new attempt. What seems clear is that, although Turn off the speakers It will not resolve the multiple open fronts in the interorean relationship, it represents a significant gesture in a prolonged cycle of sound and symbolic confrontation. By unilaterally suspending these actions, Lee Jae-Myung seeks to establish the basis of a New political narrativebased on the reduction of tensions and the reconstruction of diplomatic channels.

No doubt, the balance between democratic principles, national security and geopolitical realism remains delicate. But for now The silence reigns On the border, and it is possible that the future of this truce depends on whether the north or the south end up turning the decibels of their speakers again.

Image | Driedprawns

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