Kim Yo Jong, sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, has rejected South Korea’s claims that Pyongyang dismantled some of its propaganda loudspeakers along the border, insisting they have “never removed” them and have “no will to improve relations” with Seoul — a stance she says will be enshrined in the constitution.
Her statement, published by KCNA on Thursday, called the South Korean military’s announcement “unfounded” and “a red herring.” The dispute follows Seoul’s recent dismantling of its own loudspeakers, which previously blasted K-pop and anti-Pyongyang messages, while the North broadcast eerie noises, including howling animals.
The broadcasts, seen by Pyongyang as acts of war, resumed in June 2024 after a six-year pause, in response to North Korea sending rubbish-filled balloons southward. New South Korean President Lee Jae Myung halted them in June 2025 to “restore trust” and “achieve peace,” but tensions remain high.
This week, North Korea warned of “resolute counteraction” ahead of joint U.S.-South Korea military drills. Border residents have long complained about the noise pollution, sometimes occurring at night, while analysts see the loudspeakers as a symbolic barometer of inter-Korean relations — currently still deeply strained.
