• Kim Yo-jong denies claims of North Korea removing loudspeakers at the border.
• North Korea insists it has no desire to improve relations with South Korea.
• Joint military drills between South Korea and the US are cited as reasons for hostility.

Kim Yo-jong, the influential sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, has categorically denied allegations from South Korea that the North is removing its propaganda loudspeakers along the inter-Korean border. She stated unequivocally, “We have never removed loudspeakers installed on the border area and are not willing to remove them,” and criticized claims from Seoul as a misleading attempt to foster hope for improved inter-Korean relations according to SCMP and BBC.

The statement from Kim Yo-jong comes coincidentally alongside South Korea's military detection of North Korean troops potentially dismantling some border loudspeakers, following South Korea's own removal of similar speakers in a move aimed at reducing cross-border tensions. This action had been framed by South Korean President Lee Jae Myung as part of an effort to restore dialogue between the two nations, recently suggesting they could "gradually reopen dialogue." However, Kim voiced strong objections, emphasizing the North's disinterest in diplomatic thawing, reported Channel News Asia and India Times.

Kim's remarks reflect a hardened stance from North Korea, reiterating their strategic view that ongoing military exercises involving South Korea and the United States signal hostility rather than goodwill. She asserted, “Whether the ROK withdraws its loudspeakers or not, we do not care about them and are not interested in them," directly addressing the upcoming joint military drills scheduled to start on August 18, which the North typically condemns as preparatory acts for invasion according to Channel News Asia and India Times.

The apparent contradiction in messages from both Koreas underscores the tensions that characterize their interactions. While North Korea continues to dismiss any suggestion of dialogue with the South, the latter remains committed to pursuing diplomatic initiatives with the aim of stabilizing relations, a position articulated by a spokesperson from South Korea’s unification ministry who noted that a long-term perspective is essential for dialogue and engagement. This situation continues to unfold in a context where tensions remain high and mutual distrust prevails, as discussed in multiple reports including BBC, India Times, and SCMP.