South Korea Switches off Propaganda Broadcasts against the North
Dan Arkin
| 25/04/2018
Archive photo: AP
South Korea on Monday halted the propaganda broadcasts at the border town of Panmunjom, in a move to set a positive tone ahead of the expected inter-Korean summit between President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.
According to Reuters, it is the first time in more than two years the South Korean broadcasts, which include a mixture of news, South Korean pop music and criticism of the North Korean regime, have been stopped.
"We hope this decision will lead both Koreas to stop mutual criticism and propaganda against each other and also contribute in creating peace and a new beginning," the South Korean defense ministry said in a statement.
US President Donald Trump, who is due to meet with Kim Jong-un in the coming weeks, welcomed the announcement but cautioned more progress was needed. "We are a long way from conclusion on North Korea, maybe things will work out, and maybe they won’t – only time will tell," Trump said on Twitter.
Meanwhile, preparations for Friday's summit are underway. South Korea’s presidential Blue House said North Korea had agreed to allow South Korean reporters in its part of the Joint Security Area at the border to cover the event. Preparations for the talks will include a rehearsal by officials from both countries at the border truce village of Panmunjom on Wednesday.
Archive photo: AP
South Korea on Monday halted the propaganda broadcasts at the border town of Panmunjom, in a move to set a positive tone ahead of the expected inter-Korean summit between President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.
According to Reuters, it is the first time in more than two years the South Korean broadcasts, which include a mixture of news, South Korean pop music and criticism of the North Korean regime, have been stopped.
"We hope this decision will lead both Koreas to stop mutual criticism and propaganda against each other and also contribute in creating peace and a new beginning," the South Korean defense ministry said in a statement.
US President Donald Trump, who is due to meet with Kim Jong-un in the coming weeks, welcomed the announcement but cautioned more progress was needed. "We are a long way from conclusion on North Korea, maybe things will work out, and maybe they won’t – only time will tell," Trump said on Twitter.
Meanwhile, preparations for Friday's summit are underway. South Korea’s presidential Blue House said North Korea had agreed to allow South Korean reporters in its part of the Joint Security Area at the border to cover the event. Preparations for the talks will include a rehearsal by officials from both countries at the border truce village of Panmunjom on Wednesday.
