South Korea has suspended its long-standing military radio program directed at North Korea, the Defence Ministry announced Monday, describing the move as part of broader efforts to ease tensions on the Korean Peninsula.
The program, known as Voice of Freedom, has been used for decades as a psychological warfare tool, carrying broadcasts critical of Pyongyang’s leadership, updates on South Korea’s economy, and elements of popular culture. It is the first time in 15 years the transmissions have been halted, following their resumption after the 2010 sinking of a South Korean warship blamed on the North.
“The Ministry of National Defence has suspended broadcasts of Voice of Freedom as part of measures to ease military tensions between the South and North,” deputy spokesperson Lee Kyung-ho said at a briefing in Seoul.
The decision comes under President Lee Jae Myung, who has pledged to reduce hostility with Pyongyang and revive dialogue. His administration previously stopped propaganda loudspeaker campaigns along the border and has floated the idea of mediating a meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
So far, North Korea has rejected Seoul’s overtures, with Kim preparing instead for a high-profile trip to China this week, where he is expected to attend a military parade alongside Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The two Koreas remain technically at war, as the 1950–53 conflict ended in an armistice rather than a peace treaty. Analysts say Seoul’s suspension of the broadcasts is largely symbolic, but could lay groundwork for dialogue if Pyongyang responds positively.
