Seoul mulls 'proportionate measure' over Pyongyang's loudspeaker threat

South Korea said Thursday it would take a proportionate measure if North Korea resumes propaganda loudspeaker broadcasts along the border, without specifying what it might do. Kim Yo-jong said Pyongyang would restart broadcasts later this month and warned of new border countermeasures. Seoul also plans to ask the U.N. Security Council to address a mine explosion that injured South Korean soldiers and that the United Nations Command said violated the armistice. Experts urged negotiations and caution to prevent further escalation.

South Korea halted its loudspeaker broadcasts on June 11, 2025, and removed about 20 fixed units on Aug. 4 and 5; more than 10 portable units remain.

The broadcasts carry outside news, criticism of North Korea’s leadership and K-pop, and are aimed at front-line soldiers and residents.

When South Korea restarted broadcasts in 2015 after an 11-year pause, North Korea fired artillery across the border and South Korea returned fire.

The United Nations Command confirmed that the Sept. 21 mine explosion, which injured three South Korean soldiers on the South Korean side of the Military Demarcation Line, violated the 1953 Korean Armistice Agreement.

North Korea has denied responsibility for the explosion. South Korea’s letter to the U.N. Security Council is also intended to call for an apology, responsible measures, prevention of escalating tensions and restoration of dialogue.

Published Oct 22, 2026 4:54 pm KST

Seoul to send letter to UNSC chief to call for UN-level actions on NK mine blast

Kim Yo-jong, fourth from left, sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, and Pak Jong-chon, fifth from left, vice chairman of the Central Military Commission of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea and an adviser to the North Korean defense ministry, inspect inter-Korea border fortifications at an unspecified location with soldiers, Tuesday. Yonhap

South Korea said on Thursday it would take a “proportionate measure” if North Korea resumes operating propaganda loudspeakers along the border, while not mentioning details about such measures.

In a wider response to the border tension that resulted from the explosion of North Korean mines, which injured South Korean soldiers, Seoul said it would send a letter to the president of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to explain that the mine planting was in violation of the 1953 Korean Armistice Agreement and call for U.N.-level actions.

"If North Korea takes action, we believe there should be a proportionate measure," Ministry of National Defense spokesperson Chung Binna said when asked if Seoul will set up and operate its own propaganda loudspeakers.

But she added nothing has been decided.

The remarks came as Kim Yo-jong, the powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, has said in two statements since Tuesday that Pyongyang will resume propaganda loudspeaker broadcasts against South Korea, claiming that Seoul wrongfully accused North Korean troops of crossing the border.

South Korea finished dismantling its border loudspeakers last year under the Lee Jae Myung administration. The military halted broadcasts on June 11, 2025, describing the step as a preemptive move to ease noise damage for border residents and reduce tension on the peninsula. Seoul removed about 20 fixed units on Aug. 4 and 5 last year, while more than 10 portable units remain.

The broadcasts are among the forms of pressure Pyongyang objects to most strongly. Carrying news from outside, criticism of the leadership and K-pop, they are aimed at front-line soldiers and residents. The North has long treated them as an act of war. When Seoul restarted them in 2015 after an 11-year pause, the North fired artillery across the border and the South returned fire.

A renewed round of broadcasts from both sides would almost certainly sharpen tensions along the border and the unification ministry remained cautious, saying relevant ministries would discuss the issue together.

Addressing Kim Yo-jong’s statement, Thursday, the ministry noted that barely a year ago, both Koreas were running loudspeakers and residents on both sides endured hardship that was difficult to bear, adding that "the mistakes of the past should not be repeated."

A North Korean military propaganda loudspeaker is seen along the northern side of the inter-Korean border in this photo taken from Songhae-myeon, Ganghwa County, Incheon, Thursday. Yonhap

Seoul said it would also send a letter to the UNSC chief.

“The letter is intended to clarify that the recent explosion was caused by a landmine buried by North Korean forces, constituting a clear violation of the armistice agreement, while demanding an apology and responsible measures from Pyongyang," foreign ministry spokesperson Park Doo-soon said during a regular briefing.

"At the same time, the letter will stress the need to prevent escalating tensions and restore dialogue. We also intend to draw attention to North Korea's recent attempts to frame our military's legitimate operational activities along the Military Demarcation Line (MDL) as provocations, shifting the blame for regional tensions onto us."

Experts said the North is unlikely to resume loudspeaker broadcasts immediately, calling on Seoul to prioritize efforts to restart dialogue between the two Koreas on border lines with North Korea through the United Nations Command (UNC).

"When it comes to discrepancies over the border or the MDL, the top priority must be negotiations — whether through the UNC, direct face-to-face talks or written exchanges," said Yang Moo-jin, former president of the University of North Korean Studies. "This issue must be resolved through negotiation, not provocations or wordplay."

Koh Yu-hwan, professor emeritus of North Korean studies at Dongguk University, said South Korea should not be overly swayed by every statement coming from North Korea.

"North Korea has decided its direction. The real issue is managing that reality together with the UNC for South Korea,” Koh said. “If we provoke them and turn this into a major geopolitical risk, South Korea is lacking direct leverage to force Pyongyang off its chosen path.”

A South Korean soldier stands guard in front of a minefield near the Demilitarized Zone between North and South Korea, in Yanggu, Gangwon Province, Wednesday. AFP-Yonhap

Kim Jae-chun, a professor at Sogang University, said the government should find a way to counter the Pyongyang’s escalating provocations while demonstrating that Seoul is ready to counter any provocations.

"South Korea should have considered resuming counter-loudspeakers," Kim said. "We must demonstrate firm resolve. Showing North Korea that we are ready to take on big risks and escalate will force them to back down."

He suggested that Seoul develop a political strategy to stop Pyongyang's provocations while pursuing diplomatic approaches.

"Diplomatic action is still needed, but we must build a system where North Korea feels true pain and realizes the costs of its actions significantly outweigh the benefits."

In her statement on Wednesday, Kim Yo-jong said Pyongyang would resume propaganda loudspeaker broadcasts later this month, after visiting the border with Pak Jong-chon, an adviser to North Korea's defense ministry.

In another statement issued Thursday, she warned of "new counter means" at the North's border, without detailing them.

"Our new counter means will get into the alert for duty at all the border line and the loudspeakers against the ROK will be on standby within a few days," Kim said in the statement carried by the North's Korean Central News Agency, referring to the South's official name, the Republic of Korea.

Since April 2024, the North has been fortifying borders under Kim Jong-un’s order following its policy change to seek “hostile two-state” status and see the two Koreas as independent countries.

On Sept. 21, three South Korean soldiers were injured by North Korean mines on the South Korean side of the MDL, which the UNC confirmed as a violation of the armistice agreement. South has since demanded an apology from the North, which has denied responsibility for the explosion.

韩国周四表示，如果朝鲜恢复在边境沿线使用扩音器进行宣传广播，韩国将采取对等措施，但并未具体说明可能采取的行动。金与正表示，平壤将于本月晚些时候恢复广播，并警告称将采取新的边境反制措施。首尔方面还计划请求联合国安理会就一起导致韩国士兵受伤的地雷爆炸事件进行磋商，联合国军司令部称该爆炸事件违反了停战协定。专家敦促各方进行谈判并保持谨慎，以防止局势进一步升级。

韩国于 2025 年 6 月 11 日停止了扩音器广播，并于 8 月 4 日和 5 日拆除了约 20 个固定装置；目前仍有 10 多个便携式装置。

这些广播节目播放外部新闻、批评朝鲜领导层以及韩国流行音乐，目标受众是前线士兵和居民。

2015年，韩国在中断11年后恢复广播时，朝鲜向韩国境内发射炮弹，韩国随即还击。

联合国军司令部确认，9月21日发生在军事分界线韩国一侧的地雷爆炸事件，造成三名韩国士兵受伤，违反了1953年《朝鲜停战协定》。

朝鲜否认对爆炸事件负责。韩国致函联合国安理会，意在呼吁朝鲜道歉、采取负责任的措施、防止紧张局势升级并恢复对话。

发布于2026年10月22日下午4:54（韩国标准时间）

首尔将致函联合国安理会主席，呼吁联合国层面就朝鲜地雷爆炸事件采取行动。

周二，朝鲜最高领导人金正恩的妹妹金与正（左四）和朝鲜劳动党中央军事委员会副委员长、朝鲜国防部顾问朴正川（左五）与士兵在某处未公开地点视察朝韩边境防御工事。（韩联社）

韩国周四表示，如果朝鲜恢复在边境地区使用宣传喇叭，韩国将采取“对等措施”，但没有提及此类措施的细节。

针对朝鲜地雷爆炸导致韩国士兵受伤而引发的边境紧张局势，首尔方面表示将致函联合国安理会主席，解释朝鲜埋设地雷违反了1953年《朝鲜停战协定》，并呼吁联合国采取行动。

“如果朝鲜采取行动，我们认为应该采取对等措施，”韩国国防部发言人郑彬那在被问及首尔是否会设立和运营自己的宣传喇叭时表示。

但她补充说，一切都还没有定论。

此前，朝鲜领导人金正恩的妹妹金与正自周二以来发表两份声明称，平壤将恢复对韩国的宣传广播，声称首尔错误地指控朝鲜军队越境。

韩国在李在明政府时期于去年完成了边境扩音器的拆除工作。军方于2025年6月11日停止了广播，称此举是为了减轻边境居民的噪音困扰，并缓解朝鲜半岛的紧张局势。首尔方面于去年8月4日至5日拆除了约20个固定扩音器，目前仍有10多个便携式扩音器保留。

这些广播是平壤最强烈反对的施压形式之一。它们播放来自外部的新闻、批评领导层的内容以及韩国流行音乐，目标受众是前线士兵和居民。朝鲜长期以来一直将这些广播视为战争行为。2015年，首尔在中断11年后重启这些广播时，朝鲜向韩国境内发射了炮弹，韩国也进行了还击。

双方再次发表讲话几乎肯定会加剧边境地区的紧张局势，统一部对此保持谨慎态度，称相关部门将共同商讨此事。

针对金与正的声明，韩国外交部周四指出，就在一年前，朝韩双方还在使用扩音器，双方居民都经历了难以承受的苦难，并补充说“过去的错误不应该重演”。

这张照片拍摄于韩国仁川市江华郡松海面，照片显示朝鲜军方在朝韩边境北侧架设了宣传喇叭。（韩联社）

首尔方面表示，还将致函联合国安理会主席。

外交部发言人朴斗顺在例行记者会上表示：“这封信旨在澄清，最近发生的爆炸是由朝鲜军队埋设的地雷引起的，这明显违反了停战协定，同时要求平壤道歉并采取负责任的措施。”

“与此同时，信中还将强调防止紧张局势升级和恢复对话的必要性。我们还打算提请注意朝鲜近期试图将我军在军事分界线（MDL）沿线的合法军事行动定性为挑衅，并将地区紧张局势的责任推卸给我们。”

专家表示，朝鲜不太可能立即恢复扩音器广播，并呼吁首尔优先考虑通过联合国军司令部（UNC）重启朝韩两国在朝韩边界的对话。

“在边界问题或《军事决策界限》问题上，首要任务必须是谈判——无论是通过联合国会议、直接面对面会谈还是书面交流，”朝鲜大学前校长杨武镇表示，“这个问题必须通过谈判解决，而不是挑衅或玩弄文字游戏。”

东国大学朝鲜研究荣誉教授高有焕表示，韩国不应过分受朝鲜每一份声明的影响。

“朝鲜已经决定了它的发展方向。真正的问题在于韩国如何与联合国共同应对这一现实，”高先生说。“如果我们挑衅朝鲜，使之演变成重大的地缘政治风险，韩国将缺乏直接的筹码来迫使平壤改变其既定路线。”

周三，在江原道杨口郡，一名韩国士兵在朝韩非军事区附近的一片雷区前站岗。法新社-韩联社

西江大学教授金在春表示，政府应该找到应对平壤不断升级的挑衅的方法，同时表明首尔已准备好应对任何挑衅。

金正恩说：“韩国本应考虑恢复反扩音器的使用。我们必须展现坚定的决心。向朝鲜表明我们准备承担巨大风险并升级事态，将迫使他们退让。”

他建议首尔在采取外交手段的同时，制定政治战略来阻止平壤的挑衅行为。

“外交行动仍然是必要的，但我们必须建立一个机制，让朝鲜真正感受到痛苦，并意识到其行为的代价远远大于收益。”

金与正周三发表声明称，平壤将在本月晚些时候与朝鲜国防部顾问朴正川一同视察边境后，恢复使用扩音器进行宣传广播。

她在周四发表的另一份声明中警告说，朝鲜边境将出现“新的反制手段”，但没有详细说明。

金正恩在朝鲜中央通讯社发布的声明中表示：“我们的新型反恐手段将在几天内部署到所有边境线，针对韩国的扩音器也将进入待命状态。”他这里提到的韩国正式名称是大韩民国。

自 2024 年 4 月以来，朝鲜在金正恩的命令下加强了边境防御，此前朝鲜的政策发生了改变，寻求“敌对的两国”地位，并将朝鲜半岛视为独立国家。

9月21日，三名韩国士兵在朝韩分界线韩方一侧触雷受伤，联合国军司令部确认此事件违反了停战协定。韩国方面已要求朝鲜道歉，但朝鲜否认对爆炸事件负责。