The South Korean military has vowed to do more of the kind of psychological warfare that can both undermine the morale of the North Korean military and induce changes in civilian consciousness.
According to documents submitted by the military authorities to the National Assembly’s committee on defense on the 16th as part of the latter’s regular audit of the incumbent administration, from next year the military will develop next-generation equipment to broadcast both radio and television across the whole of North Korea, as well as self-propelled artillery to launch leaflets accurately across the inter-Korea border.
The move is a departure from current situation, whereby the military can only broadcast on FM, not AM and also not TV. Also, the military’s existing self-propelled artillery can only launch leaflets across a range of 30km.
In order to reduce the morale of the North Korean military, South Korea and the United States will conduct joint training exercises involving enhanced psychological warfare components. U.S, military equipment and expertize in this area will be mobilized for both Key Resolve-Foal Eagle and Ulchi-Freedom Guardian exercises.
Commenting on the plans, the head of Radio Free Chosun, Lee Gwang Baek told Daily NK, “We welcome any measure that can send many and varied information into the North. North Korea is sensitive to this kind of thing; it could be one of the largest dangers to the North Korean regime.”
However, Lee continued, “From the position of the North Korean people, they may reject psychological warfare broadcasts coming from the South Korean government. Given that civil society radio broadcasting into the North could be friendlier to the people, the government should actively investigate ways to supports it.”
