Kim Yo-jong, the head of North Korea's Workers' Party, stated on October 19 that the country is considering resuming propaganda broadcasts aimed at South Korea. This comes as North Korea retaliates against the South's cautious stance regarding the recent landmine explosion incident in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). North Korea has criticized South Korea's warning shots in response to incursions by its military across the Military Demarcation Line (MDL) and has now raised the possibility of restarting its broadcasts.
This aggressive posture from Kim Yo-jong is partly fueled by the South's low-key response to the landmine incident. The Joint Chiefs of Staff previously concluded that the explosion was caused by landmines planted by North Korean forces, following a joint investigation with the United Nations Command. Despite this clear provocation that endangered the lives and safety of South Korean soldiers, the military has not announced any significant countermeasures.
The military's tepid response was somewhat anticipated, as President Yoon Suk Yeol referred to the incident as an 'unfortunate accident' in his National Armed Forces Day speech. It would have been difficult for the military to propose a strong response that contradicted the commander-in-chief's stance.
The concern is that North Korea may interpret this as a sign of weakness. By denying the investigation's findings and refusing to accept responsibility, North Korea is escalating tensions by mentioning the potential resumption of propaganda broadcasts. If South Korea continues to respond to provocations with restraint while adopting a cautious approach to threats, its deterrent capability will inevitably weaken. Managing tensions on the Korean Peninsula and being reactive to North Korean threats are two distinct issues.
Given North Korea's threat to resume broadcasts, the South Korean government should also consider corresponding measures, including the possibility of restarting its own propaganda broadcasts. This does not mean responding in kind without thought; rather, it highlights that unilateral restraint without addressing the means that North Korea is sensitive about will not effectively deter provocations. Propaganda broadcasts serve to inform North Korean citizens about external information while also applying pressure on the regime. Even the mere consideration of resuming these broadcasts could serve as a warning to North Korea.
Public opinion is also favorable toward resuming propaganda broadcasts. A survey conducted by Korea Information Research from October 12 to 13 among 1,002 adults aged 18 and older found that 61.0% supported the resumption of broadcasts in response to North Korean provocations. However, the safety of residents in border areas and the potential impact on inter-Korean relations must also be considered. Nonetheless, these concerns do not justify a lack of response measures in the face of North Korean threats.
President Yoon directed the cessation of propaganda broadcasts shortly after taking office in June of last year, and military authorities dismantled fixed broadcasting equipment starting in August, coinciding with the 10th anniversary of North Korea's landmine provocations. While this may have been an attempt to reduce tensions, dialogue and de-escalation require reciprocal engagement from the other side. If North Korea interprets this as an opportunity for pressure rather than goodwill, the effectiveness of such policies must be reassessed.
The military needs to establish clear principles for responding to North Korean provocations, and the government must support these with consistent messaging. If North Korea threatens to resume broadcasts, South Korea should keep the possibility of its own broadcasts open to maintain effective deterrence. Peace cannot be maintained through unilateral restraint alone. Deterring North Korean provocations requires a firm resolve and practical response capabilities that prevent the regime from even contemplating such actions.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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