The South Korean government views North Korea’s cessation of propaganda broadcasts, following the suspension of South Korean loudspeaker broadcasts, as a significant step towards rebuilding inter-Korean trust.
On Thursday, a Ministry of Unification official told reporters that North Korea’s response to South Korea’s halt of loudspeaker broadcasts has eased tensions for border residents, reduced military friction, and created a meaningful opportunity for trust-building between the two Koreas.
Previously, on June 9, the government strongly urged civilian groups to stop sending anti-North Korean leaflets across the border. The following day, at 2:00 p.m., South Korea ceased all loudspeaker broadcasts along the front lines. The Joint Chiefs of Staff reported no detectable North Korean propaganda broadcasts that morning.
While the Ministry official characterized North Korea’s silence as a positive response, he cautioned against premature conclusions, stating that it needs to monitor the situation further, as it’s only been a day since this development.
The official also disclosed that the four North Korean fishermen rescued last month in the East Sea have completed their debriefing and all have expressed their desire to return home. The official added that it will work with relevant agencies to ensure their swift and safe repatriation on humanitarian grounds.
Regarding reports that North Korea refused to accept a personal letter from U.S. President Donald Trump to Kim Jong Un, the official stated that they had no information to confirm this.
NK News, a U.S.-based North Korea-focused media outlet, had previously reported, citing high-level sources, that North Korean diplomats in the U.S. rejected the delivery of Trump’s letter aimed at reopening dialogue channels between Washington and Pyongyang.
A South Korean Foreign Ministry official emphasized that the U.S. and South Korea maintain close communication at all levels regarding North Korea policy, including U.S.-North Korea dialogue. He noted that the U.S. has repeatedly affirmed its commitment to close coordination on North Korea-related matters.
The official further stated that the government believes it’s crucial to create opportunities for dialogue by implementing tension-reduction and trust-building measures with North Korea, further adding that this approach is key to achieving tangible progress on Korean Peninsula peace and resolving the North Korean nuclear issue. He concluded by urging North Korea to respond positively to these ongoing diplomatic efforts, reiterating that both the U.S. and South Korea remain open to dialogue.