North Korea threatens to activate speakers on the border

The sister of North Korean leader Kim Yo-jong said on Wednesday that speakers aimed at South Korea would be ready in a matter of days, raising tensions at the border between the two countries. The statement was made after visiting fortification sites with senior military officers, according to information released by state media.

Kim said the new response measures would enter a state of alert across the southern border line. "Our new response measures will enter a state of alert across the southern border line, and speakers facing South Korea will be in a state of readiness in a matter of days," he said.

Speakers ready by the end of October

Kim said on Wednesday night that North Korea would activate the loudspeakers against South Korea along the border by the end of October, after visiting fortification sites with senior military officers. The statement indicates a specific timeline for the measure, which could intensify psychological warfare in the region.

She also said North Korea would continue to fortify its southern border. The source did not detail what the next steps of this fortification would be, but the statement reinforces Pyongyang’s stance of hardening towards Seoul.

Context of tension at the border

South Korea claims that North Korean mines caused an explosion at the border last month that seriously injured two soldiers. North Korea denies responsibility, calling the incident a South Korean invention. The divergence illustrates the climate of mutual mistrust that marks the relations between the two countries.

The incident occurred at a time of increasing militarization of the border, with both sides conducting exercises and reinforcing positions. Pyongyang’s activation of loudspeakers would be another chapter in this escalation, resuming a common practice during the Cold War.

Dilemma for the South Korean government

Lim Eul-chul, a professor at Kyungnam University in Seoul, said Kim’s warnings did not necessarily mean that the speakers would be activated. But they represent a “huge dilemma” for Lee’s government, he said, as it faces a choice between pursuing its policy of peaceful engagement and curbing North Korea’s aggressive military activities along the border.

The South Korean government, led by President Lee, has sought to maintain channels of dialogue with Pyongyang, but faces internal pressure to respond firmly to the provocations. The possible activation of the loudspeakers would test the limits of this strategy, forcing Seoul to decide between retaliating or seeking de-escalation.

What to expect in the next few days

With the deadline of the end of October approaching, the international community is watching closely the movements at the border. North Korea did not give details about the content that would be broadcast by the speakers, but historically these equipment have been used for political propaganda and ideological messages.

In the meantime, South Korea maintains its own loudspeaker broadcasts in selected areas, a practice that has already been suspended and resumed at different times in inter-Korean relations. The source did not elaborate on whether Seoul plans to respond with similar measures if Pyongyang complies with the threat.

For residents of border regions, the tension is palpable. Communities on both sides coexist with the possibility of an escalation that directly affects their daily lives. The Boca no Trombone portal will continue to monitor the development of this situation and will bring new information as it becomes available.

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