Advertisement

South Korea resumes loudspeaker operations after Kim Jong Nam assassination

By Elizabeth Shim
North Korea's town Kaesong is seen from the Dorasan Observatory in the Civilian Control area near the demilitarized zone (DMZ) in Paju, South Korea. Seoul has resumed loudspeaker broadcasts to ordinary North Koreans following the assassination of Kim Jong Nam. Photo by Keizo Mori/UPI
North Korea's town Kaesong is seen from the Dorasan Observatory in the Civilian Control area near the demilitarized zone (DMZ) in Paju, South Korea. Seoul has resumed loudspeaker broadcasts to ordinary North Koreans following the assassination of Kim Jong Nam. Photo by Keizo Mori/UPI | License Photo

Feb. 22 (UPI) -- South Korea has resumed loudspeaker broadcasts across the demilitarized zone to inform North Koreans of the assassination of Kim Jong Nam.

The transmissions are restarting as North Korea state media has begun to address the incident.

Advertisement

A South Korean military official told local news service EDaily on Thursday, local time, loudspeaker broadcasts about the assassination have begun so North Korean soldiers and civilians living near the border could hear details of the attack.

Facts of the report, including the use of a deadly poison or chemical by two female assailants, are included in the transmission, the official said.

Segments from British public broadcaster BBC are also included in the program to emphasize objectivity. The program points out North Korean suspects have either been arrested or are under investigation, the official said.

The South Korean "Voice of Freedom" segment runs about 1 minute and 20 seconds, and because it is likely most North Koreans do not know the details of the Kim family tree, the announcement includes information on how the two Kims are connected as relatives.

Kim Jong Nam is the oldest son of former leader Kim Jong Il, and Song Hye Rim, an alleged mistress.

Advertisement

Kim Jong Un is the third and youngest child of Ko Yong Hui and the former leader.

On Thursday, local time, North Korea's state-controlled news agency KCNA addressed the assassination, but denied Pyongyang's involvement in the case.

Without identifying Kim Jong Nam, the statement referred to him as a "citizen of [North Korea] bearing a diplomatic passport" who died of "heart stroke."

"An autopsy should never be done," KCNA said while condemning Malaysia for continuing investigations into the case without North Korean permission.

Video footage of Kim at the airport in Kuala Lumpur clearly shows him being assailed by two women, 28-year-old Doan Thi Huong and 24-year-old Siti Aishah.

The two suspects are currently in police custody.

Latest Headlines