Seoul: South Korea began dismantling loudspeakers broadcasting anti-North Korea messages along the border on Monday, according to the country's Defense Ministry. The move is part of President Lee Jae-myung's efforts to improve relations with Pyongyang.

According to Deutsche Welle, the military has started removing the loudspeakers, as confirmed by Lee Kyung-ho, spokesperson for the South's Defense Ministry. This initiative follows shortly after President Lee took office in June, after the impeachment of his predecessor. One of his administration's early actions was to halt the broadcasts in an effort to "restore trust" between the two nations.

A day after South Korea ceased its broadcasts, Pyongyang also stopped its own, which had long been a source of irritation for South Korean residents near the border. Despite the technical state of war that persists between the two countries, Lee aims to ease tensions and revive the long-stalled dialogue with North Korea.

However, North Korea recently dismissed the attempt at rapprochement, expressing no interest in talks with Seoul. Kim Yo Jong, the influential sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, criticized the gesture last week, stating that expecting a reversal of past results with "a few sentimental words" was a serious miscalculation from South Korea.