S. Korea's new commander-in-chief makes visit to border area

South Korea's new president appears to be aligning his defense policy with a focus on peace through dialogue.

Today, President Lee Jae-myung met with frontline troops and residents near the border with North Korea, just days after suspending loudspeaker broadcasts aimed at Pyongyang.

Our Presidential Office correspondent Song Yoo-jin reports.

South Korea's new commander-in-chief, President Lee Jae-myung, visited the army's 25th Infantry Division in Yeoncheon-gun County, Gyeonggi-do Province on Friday, his first visit to a military unit since taking office.

Welcomed by some 50 service members, President Lee expressed his gratitude for their hard work and dedication to the country, and inspected military facilities in the area.

Lee reaffirmed his peace-through-dialogue approach during the visit, which came two days after suspending South Korea's loudspeaker broadcasts toward the North.

Pyongyang also appears to have halted its loudspeaker campaign as of Thursday.

Later in the day, President Lee spoke with residents near the inter-Korean border, who've been suffering from the loudspeaker campaigns.

"Even with just one night of silence, I couldn't sleep yesterday, torn between relief and anxiety. I've developed insomnia, and sleeping pills don't even help now. Every time I think about it, I tear up. I'm just so, so thankful."

In an unscheduled addition to his itinerary, the President also met with the head of Yeoncheon-gun County and local business owners to check in on their livelihoods, particularly the rural basic income project he introduced during his tenure as Gyeonggi-do Province governor.

The program provides all residents in a designated area with a monthly payment of around 110 U.S. dollars in local currency.

Song Yoo-jin, Arirang News.