SKorea Resumes Loudspeaker Broadcasts in Response to NKorea Trash Balloons

Facts

• In response to the thousands of debris-and-manure-filled balloons North Korea recently sent across its border, South Korea on Sunday resumed its loudspeaker broadcasts in border regions.¹
• South Korea's decision to resume loudspeaker broadcasts led the North to launch a new round of balloons filled with trash across the border. In addition, Kim Jong Un's sister issued threats of further escalation if the South continued with its 'psychological warfare.'²
• The propaganda broadcasts are believed to transmit international news, information about capitalism and democracy, and K-pop music through numerous speakers in large arrays. The sound is capable of reaching 12.4 miles (20 km) into North Korea.³
• This uptick of tension occurred after a South Korean civilian leaflet campaign — prompting the North to fly in more than 1K balloons carrying tons of trash and manure into the South.⁴
• The South Korean military has advised the general public to exercise caution over falling items and to refrain from going near the balloons, instead urging the notification of authorities so chemical and explosive technicians could be deployed.⁵
• This comes as South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) announced on Tuesday that some North Korean soldiers 'briefly crossed the Military Demarcation Line' into the South on Sunday.⁶

Sources: ¹Associated Press, ²CNN, ³Guardian, ⁴NPR Online News, ⁵MSN and ⁶Verity.

Narratives

• Anti-North Korea Narrative, as provided by CNN. The ongoing tit-for-tat balloon campaign on both sides of the border is dangerously close to escalating into a military confrontation. North Korea is fully responsible for this situation and must stop sending balloons filled with trash across the border. The South Korean government is committed to standing up to any provocations and has chosen to restart its broadcasts aimed at its northern adversary.
• Pro-North Korea narrative, as provided by Voice of America. For some time now, South Korean activists have been sending subversive pamphlets into North Korea via balloons, despite a ban. Disinformation is a key motive — especially against North Korea’s nuclear program. South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol’s government is supportive of such activists. The North is now answering them with both proportionality and wit. The broadcasts are taking the provocations further. They must stop.

Predictions