South Korea's military has taken down loudspeakers that were broadcasting anti-North Korean messages along the border. This action is the new liberal government's first clear step to reduce the tension between the two rival countries, which were divided by war.

South Korea resumed its loudspeaker broadcasts in June of last year, after a long break. This was in response to North Korea sending balloons filled with trash towards the South as part of a psychological campaign.

South Korea's Defense Ministry announced on Wednesday that this action was taken to help restore trust in relations between the two Koreas and encourage peace on the Korean Peninsula.

Between May and November last year, North Korea sent thousands of balloons into South Korea. These balloons dropped various items, including wastepaper, cloth scraps, cigarette butts, and even manure. North Korea stated that this balloon campaign was a response to South Korean activists sending balloons filled with anti-North Korean leaflets, as well as USB sticks containing popular South Korean songs and dramas.

North Korea responds very strongly to any criticism from outside about its authoritarian government and its leader, Kim Jong Un, who inherited power.

After North Korea sent balloons, South Korea responded by turning on its loudspeakers near the border to play propaganda messages and K-pop songs towards North Korea.

The psychological warfare campaigns, similar to those in the Cold War, increased the already existing tensions. These tensions were caused by North Korea's increasing nuclear goals and South Korea's efforts to do more joint military exercises with the United States and improve security cooperation with Japan.

South Korea's new liberal president, Lee Jae-myung, started his term last week after winning a special election. He replaced the previous conservative leader, Yoon Suk Yeol. Lee Jae-myung has promised to make relations better with Pyongyang. Pyongyang had reacted very negatively to Yoon's strict policies and did not want to have discussions.