A South Korean soldier stands near the loudspeakers near the border area between South Korea and North Korea in Yeoncheon, South Korea. Photo / AP
A South Korean soldier stands near the loudspeakers near the border area between South Korea and North Korea in Yeoncheon, South Korea. Photo / AP
South Korea has halted propaganda broadcasts it blares across the border at North Korea as it tries to create a peaceful atmosphere ahead of the first inter-Korean summit in a decade, the Defence Ministry says.
North Korea has its own propaganda broadcasts at the border, but a Defence Ministry officialsaid he could not verify whether the North had stopped its broadcasts ahead of Friday's summit.
Yonhap news agency reported unspecified North Korean broadcasts were sporadically heard in the South.
In February, the North lowered the volume of its border propaganda after the Winter Olympics opening ceremony in South Korea's Pyeongchang.
"We hope this decision will lead both Koreas to stop mutual criticism and propaganda against each other and also contribute in creating peace and a new beginning," the Defence Ministry said.
It did not specify whether the loudhailer broadcasts would go on after the summit this week between South Korean President Moon Jae In and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
It is the first time in more than two years the South Korean broadcasts, which include a mixture of news, South Korean pop music and criticism of the North Korean regime, have been stopped.
Broadcasts were halted in mid-2015 only to be restarted in January 2016 following North Korea's fourth nuclear test. Pyongyang has conducted two more nuclear tests since then.
South Korean Army soldiers adjust equipment used for propaganda broadcasts near the border area. Photo / AP
The propaganda broadcasts were stopped at midnight, the Defence Ministry said.
The two Koreas are preparing for the summit on Friday, with officials at the border truce village of Panmunjom to hammer out details on security and media coverage of the event.
North Korea said on Saturday it was suspending nuclear and missile tests and scrapping its nuclear test site, and instead pursuing economic growth and peace.
US President Donald Trump, who is due to meet with North Korea's Kim in the coming weeks, welcomed the announcement but cautioned more progress was needed.
"We are a long way from conclusion on North Korea, maybe things will work out, and maybe they won't - only time will tell," Trump said on Twitter.
