South Korea and North Korea have repeatedly sought peace and cooperation through various dialogues in the past, but tensions and conflicts continue to arise. In 2018, the summit between President Moon Jae-in and Chairman Kim Jong-un raised hopes for peace on the Korean Peninsula. However, the stalemate in denuclearization talks and military clashes have since worsened relations. Currently, inter-Korean ties are fraught with political and military tensions, leading to new forms of conflict.
Recently, North Korea has intensified its psychological warfare by sending trash balloons to South Korea. These balloons contain garbage, coal ash, and propaganda leaflets, aimed at causing discomfort and psychological pressure on South Korean residents. This act not only brings environmental and psychological harm to people living near the border but also escalates the conflict between the two Koreas.
In response, South Korea has been broadcasting to North Korea to provide its citizens with information about the outside world and apply psychological pressure on the North Korean regime. These broadcasts, transmitted via radio and loudspeakers, include news, music, and dramas. Significantly, they also feature K-pop, introducing North Koreans to South Korean culture. Furthermore, the broadcasts highlight issues within the North Korean regime, human rights abuses, and share success stories of defectors, showing North Koreans the possibility of a different system.
However, South Korean citizens are not fearful or anxious about this situation. Having grown accustomed to the prolonged state of armistice, they remain relatively calm. The South Korean government and civil organizations continue to work on delivering truthful information to North Koreans through these broadcasts, while the citizens carry on with their daily lives, enduring this tense state. This situation underscores the need for continued efforts to maintain peace amid the ongoing tensions between the two Koreas.
Written by: Ms Im Minju, September 2024