South Korea Plays BTS Songs in Huge Loudspeaker in Cold War Against North Korea

At the closely guarded border between North and South Korea, a unique and modern twist has been added to the long-standing cold war-style tactics between the two nations. 

South Korea has resumed its propaganda broadcasts, but with a contemporary twist: blasting the hit songs of the globally renowned K-pop group BTS.

The latest escalation began last month when North Korea launched hundreds of balloons carrying garbage and excrement towards South Korea. 

This provocative act prompted South Korea to respond with its own psychological tactics. 

On June 9, KST, South Korea re-deployed massive loudspeakers along the border to broadcast anti-North Korean propaganda. 

According to South Korean media reports, the broadcasts featured BTS’ smash hits "Butter" and "Dynamite," among other content.

The broadcast of BTS songs and other messages did not go unnoticed by North Korea. 

Kim Yo-jong, the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, expressed strong disapproval of the propaganda broadcasts. 

She warned that these actions might lead to a “crisis of confrontation,” describing the situation as a “prelude to a very dangerous situation.”

Professor Leif-Eric Easley of Seoul’s Ewha University told ABC News that both Koreas are currently engaged in a battle of politically symbolic actions, each trying to exert pressure on the other without appearing to back down. 

Easley noted that the tensions at the border risk escalating into an unintended war, as neither side wants to be perceived as conceding.

In addition to BTS songs, the broadcasts reportedly included news about Samsung, weather forecasts, and external criticism of North Korea’s missile program and media censorship. 

The broadcasts aim to undermine the North Korean regime by providing its citizens with information that contradicts the regime's propaganda.

The event took place in Seoul’s picturesque neighborhood of Buam Dong, close to the city center and important government and diplomatic buildings. 

Meanwhile, North Korea continued its "filth balloon" campaign, launching hundreds of balloons towards the South, although shifting wind patterns resulted in only a portion of them landing in South Korean territory.

The balloon exchanges are rooted in actions by South Korean activists, some of whom are North Korean defectors. 

These activists have been sending balloons into North Korea laden with anti-regime propaganda, USB drives filled with K-pop songs and K-dramas, used toilet paper, and occasionally US currency. 

Although these balloons are launched by private entities, the South Korean government’s recent actions have escalated the situation into a formal retaliatory arena.

The military broadcasts, known as Voice of Freedom, began with the South Korean national anthem and a statement explaining why Seoul was resuming its propaganda operations. 

This move marks a significant departure from the 2018 Comprehensive Military Agreement (CMA), a bilateral mechanism aimed at reducing tensions, which has since been violated by both sides. 

Seoul’s National Security Council recently announced the official suspension of the CMA.

The re-emergence of propaganda broadcasts at the Korean border, now featuring modern K-pop hits, underscores the ongoing and evolving nature of the conflict between North and South Korea. 

While the use of BTS songs adds a contemporary flair to these cold war tactics, the underlying tensions remain deeply rooted and potentially volatile. 

As both nations continue their symbolic and psychological warfare, the international community watches closely, hoping for a resolution that can bring lasting peace to the Korean Peninsula.