S. Korea halts propaganda broadcasts ahead of inter-Korean summit

The Republic of Korea (ROK) announced Monday that it has stopped propaganda broadcasts over the border with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) ahead of inter-Korean summit talks this week.

The ROK's Ministry of National Defense in a statement said it's expected to "reduce military tensions” and help to create "the mood of peaceful talks" on the peninsula.

View at the border between the Republic of Korea (ROK) and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK)

It is the first time in more than two years that South’s broadcasts have been stopped.

The move followed Pyongyang's recent peace gestures, including the weekend announcement of the decisions to shut down its nuclear test facilities and suspend nuclear tests and long-range missile launches.

Seoul began those broadcasts using high-decibel loudspeakers at the border in 1963, with the DPRK blaring its own propaganda messages across the border as well.

The two sides halted the broadcasts in 2015 in a deal at high-level talks with the DPRK, but Seoul resumed the loudspeaker campaign in 2016 in response to Pyongyang's nuclear test.

(CGTN)