North Korea Suspends Radio Broadcasts Suspected of Sending Coded Messages to Spies
The North Korean state-run radio station, which was previously known for broadcasting coded numbers, has stopped operations. This decision reportedly came after North Korea labeled South Korea as its “principal enemy.”
On Saturday, South Korean media reported that the state-run Pyongyang Radio, along with its website, appeared to have ceased operations. According to the same report, the radio station was believed to have broadcast coded messages to its agents in South Korea.
In addition, the North Korean officials responsible for dealing with the country’s enemies held a meeting on Saturday to discuss re-assessing organizations involved in promoting North-South relations.
Recent comments from North Korean leader Kim Jong Un indicated a shift in policy in terms of its relationship with South Korea, specifically characterizing it as a relationship between two hostile countries.
In January 2024, North Korea fired artillery shells into the Yellow Sea, causing no damage but violating the North-South military agreement.
“This is an act of provocation that escalates tension and threatens peace on the Korean peninsula,” South Korea’s Defense Minister Shin Won-sik said in response.
North Korea’s actions have led, in part, to a suspension of part of the inter-Korean accord by South Korea, who also detected the reconstruction of North Korean guard posts along the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ).