The military on Aug. 4 began to remove propaganda speakers aimed toward North Korea. Shown are soldiers clearing loudspeakers in the border area. (Ministry of National Defense)

By Charles Audouin

The military on Aug. 4 began to remove front-line loudspeakers blasting propaganda toward North Korea.

The Ministry of National Defense that day announced "practical measures to help ease inter-Korean tension within a range that does not affect overall military readiness."

All 20 fixed loudspeakers will be removed within a few days. About 10 portable speakers on June 11 were removed right after President Lee Jae Myung took office and propaganda broadcasting was subsequently stopped.

The ministry said it discussed the removal as a follow-up measure after the halt of such broadcasting and made its latest decision after talks with related bureaus.

The Joint Chiefs of Staff said they had no consultations with North Korea and gave a statement on the removal of the loudspeakers: "We saw instances of North Korea doing maintenance on its loudspeakers toward the South but no signs of their removal."

caudouin@korea.kr