AP, 24 May 2010: Hyung-Jin Kim "South Korea's military resumed radio broadcasts airing Western music, news and comparisons between the South and North Korean political and economic situations late Monday, according to the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The military also planned to launch propaganda leaflets Tuesday to inform North Koreans about the ship sinking. In coming weeks, South Korea also will install dozens of propaganda loudspeakers and towering electronic billboards along the heavily armed land border between the two Koreas.The action, which ends a six-year suspension, is expected to draw an angry response from North Korea. The country's military already warned Monday it would fire at any propaganda facilities installed in the Demilitarized Zone." -- The Korean Broadcasting System's KBS Global Radio, on three powerful medium wave transmitters which can easily reach into North Korea, has always been on the air. Is it reverting to more aggressive reporting about North Korea? This network has been criticized in recent years for holding back in its coverage of North Korea, in line with the ROK's policy of reaching out to Pyongyang. Or are the "resumed" broadcasts a revival or revitalization of clandestine stations beamed to North Korea?
BBC News, 25 May 2010: "South Korea's defence ministry said the first radio programme, entitled Voice of Freedom, went out on Monday evening. Broadcasts would take place three times a day, a spokesman said. He said the programme would be broadcast through high-performance loudspeakers that will be installed along the demilitarised zone. 'Initially we are installing loudspeakers at 14 places along the DMZ (Demilitarised Zone). The installation requires several months of work,' the spokesman told AFP news agency. South Korea says it will also drop propaganda leaflets into the North to tell people about the Cheonan incident as soon as possible, and set up giant electronic billboards to flash messages."
Bloomberg, 24 May 2010, Bomi Lim: "South Korea broadcast a pop song extolling freedom of choice and a warning on the dangers of overeating into North Korea, ending a six-year moratorium on propaganda in retaliation for the sinking of a warship. The four-hour radio program yesterday evening included a speech by South Korean President Lee Myung Bak outlining his government’s response to the March 26 sinking, which an international panel concluded was caused by a North Korean torpedo. ...
The propaganda broadcast made on FM radio began at 6 p.m. local time yesterday when a woman anchor announced what she called the 'voice of freedom.' North Korean listeners were regaled with a song by a South Korean girl band, Four Minute. ... The broadcast then explained how South Koreans no longer experience hunger, and are more worried about getting fat. 'Always remember, we want to share our prosperity with you,' the anchor said, accusing North Korean officials of enriching themselves while the people go hungry."
AFP, 25 May 2010: "One group of loudspeakers on the Seoul side could be heard more than 20km from the frontline at night time." See previous post about same subject.
VOA correspondent Steve Herman tweets: "ROK military reported to have launched broadcasts targeting DPRK called 'Voice of Freedom' on 103.1 & 107.3 MHz FM." -- So does the South Korean military know that most North Koreans now have radios with FM bands? Or are they using FM because it is the predominant waveband in the South?
(Kim Elliott)