Do you know N. Korea's latest tactic? Bombarding South Korea with Relentless Noise.

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North Korea has escalated tensions with South Korea by using a new and unsettling tactic: bombarding the South with continuous, eerie noises. Villagers in Dangsan, a small community near the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), have been subjected to a psychological assault as North Korean loudspeakers blast disturbing sounds across the border. The relentless noises, ranging from gong-like crashes to ghostly screams, have made daily life unbearable for residents, with some calling it “noise bombing.”

Since July, North Korea's loudspeakers have been blaring these nerve-racking sounds for up to 24 hours a day, replacing their usual propaganda broadcasts. These sounds include metallic grinding, howling wolves, and even noises reminiscent of artillery fire. Unlike the old broadcasts that included music and human voices, these new sounds are devoid of any clear message, which many residents find even more distressing.

"It is driving us crazy," one resident said, describing the situation as "bombing without shells." "You can't sleep at night," she added, reflecting on the psychological toll of the unrelenting noise. Villagers have reported suffering from insomnia, headaches, and stress, as the eerie sounds invade their homes and disrupt their daily routines.

The psychological impact on the people of Dangsan is profound. Some villagers have resorted to sealing their windows with Styrofoam and avoiding outdoor activities to escape the constant noise. The quiet rural lifestyle they once enjoyed has been shattered, and despite visits from parliamentarians and emotional pleas for relief, the government has only provided temporary measures, such as double-pane windows and livestock medication.

This new tactic is part of a broader escalation in tensions between North and South Korea. Since North Korean leader Kim Jong-un abandoned dialogue with the South and the U.S., relations have soured further. South Korea’s president, Yoon Suk Yeol, has intensified military drills with allies and resumed propaganda broadcasts targeting the North. The North has retaliated by launching its own counter-propaganda measures, including the "noise bombing" and a series of other provocations.

In May, North Korea released balloons filled with trash in response to anti-Kim leaflets sent by defectors in the South. Shortly after, South Korea resumed its own broadcasts of K-pop music and news, prompting the North’s eerie counterattack with loudspeakers. Experts suggest that the purpose of North Korea’s new tactics is no longer to spread propaganda, but rather to force South Korea to halt its broadcasts and leaflets.

Kang Dong-wan, a North Korea expert, noted that North Korea likely understands its traditional propaganda no longer has the desired effect on South Koreans. "The goal has shifted from spreading propaganda to pressuring South Korea into stopping its own broadcasts," Kang explained.

As tensions remain high, the residents of Dangsan fear they are caught in the middle of a political standoff between two nations. Despite calls for a return to diplomatic agreements, such as those that once sought to avoid mutual slander, North Korea’s actions signal its intent to escalate further, including demolishing key transport links and disrupting GPS signals near the border.

For now, the people of Dangsan continue to endure the psychological strain of the unrelenting noise, with little relief in sight.