S. Korea begins to remove anti-Pyongyang loudspeakers along border

Loudspeakers installed along the border for propaganda broadcasts against North Korea will be taken down within the next few days.

The South Korean government decided to do so as part of efforts to alleviate tensions between the two Koreas.

Our Kim Bo-kyoung starts us off.

South Korea's military decided to remove loudspeakers on Monday that were used for anti-Pyongyang broadcasts.

The move, comes amid the Lee Jae Myung administration's attempts to ease tensions on the Korean Peninsula.

"Our military has begun dismantling the loudspeakers directed toward North Korea starting today. This is a practical measure aimed at easing tensions between the two Koreas, carried out within a scope that does not affect our military readiness."

Removing the loudspeakers comes less than two months after President Lee ordered the suspension of broadcasts in early June, an action also followed by North Korea afterwards.

Around 20 fixed loudspeakers will be removed within two to three days, as mobile loudspeakers had already been taken away when the broadcasts were suspended.

North Korea still has its loudspeakers in position, though they are not being used.

Despite Seoul's proactive measure, one expert says Pyongyang is not going to consider that this is a major step towards opening up dialogue as it is just a follow-up measure of "physically" getting rid of loudspeakers after the government promised to suspend broadcasts.

However, he did say this was going to help the two Koreas build a bit more trust.

"It's hard to say that this directly addresses the fundamental issues that North Korea is demanding. However, by taking actions as the South Korean government had stated, it could help build a bit more trust from Pyongyang toward Seoul."

Pyongyang is known to be demanding the end to ROK-U.S. joint military exercises.

However, this is unlikely to happen, as the upcoming Ulchi Freedom Shield is expected to go ahead as originally planned as of Monday, according to the defense ministry.

Kim Bo-kyoung, Arirang News.