North Korea stops secret radio station 'firing' information into South Korea

North Korea has shut down Radio Pyongyang, which was used to send “coded messages to North Korean agents” in South Korea, in the latest sign that Pyongyang is dramatically changing how it handles its complex and sensitive relations with Seoul.

Triều Tiên ngừng đài phát thanh bí mật 'bắn' thông tin vào Hàn Quốc

North and South Korea once installed loudspeakers on the border to serve propaganda warfare. (Source: Yonhap)

Yonhap News Agency reported on January 13 that North Korea has terminated the operations of Pyongyang Radio. Pyongyang Radio, known as the call sign (which frequently appears and disappears on all shortwave radio bands, is unlicensed and untraceable).

Observers believe that the radio station is operated by the North Korean government and is used to communicate with units and organizations operating secretly in the territory of other countries.

Radio Pyongyang has previously broadcast mysterious coded numbers believed to be sent to North Korean spies operating in South Korea. The station’s website also went offline on January 13.

Seoul-based NK News reported on January 12 that several North Korean propaganda websites were inaccessible more than 24 hours after being shut down. The websites of Uriminzokkiri, DPRK Today, Arirang Meari, Tongil Voice, Ryomyong and Ryugyong have been down since at least the morning of January 11.

North Korea has increased pressure on South Korea in recent weeks, branding Seoul its “main enemy,” asserting that it will never reunify with South Korea and vowing to enhance its nuclear strike capabilities against the United States and its allies in the Pacific.

Speaking at the 9th Plenum of the 8th Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea in late 2023, leader Kim Jong Un called for a "decisive policy change" in relations with Seoul, instructing the North Korean military to prepare to pacify and occupy South Korea in the event of a crisis.

Earlier on January 13, North Korea announced plans to disband organizations in charge of civilian exchanges with South Korea. According to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), all relevant organizations in North Korea - including the Korean Committee for the Implementation of the June 15 Joint Declaration, the Inter-Korean Alliance for the Reunification of the Two Koreas, the National Reconciliation Advisory Council and the Tangun National Reunification Council - will be reorganized.

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