AI-Summary – News For Tomorrow
Free North Korea Radio, which aims for a “liberal unification” of the Korean Peninsula, continues broadcasting despite government crackdowns on campaigns sending outside news to North Korea to ease tensions. Lee Si-young, the station’s new head after Kim’s illness, worked with Kim for 10 years. The South Korean government halted its own radio broadcasts but hasn’t officially requested civic groups like Free North Korea Radio to cease their efforts. Kim, who participated until July, emphasized the importance of continuing broadcasts until the last defector remains. His prerecorded opening comments, used in Monday’s broadcast, reiterate the goal of overthrowing Kim Jong Un’s dictatorship.
News summary provided by Gemini AI.
Among them is Lee Si-young, who worked with Kim for about 10 years and became new head of their radio station in December, after Kim’s condition worsened. Lee said when she first met Kim, she could recognize his voice as he appeared at radio broadcasts that she had listened to.
Aimed for ‘a liberal unification’
Civilian campaigns to transmit outside news to North Korea have suffered a major setback after the current liberal South Korean government, led by President Lee Jae Myung, began cracking down on them in a bid to ease tensions with North Korea since taking office in June.
Lee Si-young said her group stopped floating plastic bottles, while other organizations suspended flights of large balloons with propaganda leaflets and USB sticks across the border. Lee’s government halted key government-run radio broadcasts into North Korea, but hasn’t asked civic groups to do the same.
The Free North Korea Radio station airs broadcasts two hours a day. Lee Si-young said Kim took part in broadcasts until July and told her and others that “our efforts to send outside news to North Korea must not be ceased until one last defector is left.”
Monday’s broadcast posted on the station’s website still uses Kim’s pre-recorded opening comments.
“Hello, North Korean compatriots. Now, we’re beginning Free North Korea Radio broadcasts from Seoul, the capital of Republic of Korea,” Kim said. “Our objective is overthrowing the dictatorship by Kim Jong Un and achieving a liberal unification on the Korean Peninsula.”
