South Korean authorities began removing on Monday loudspeakers blaring anti-North Korea broadcasts along the country's border, Seoul's defence ministry said, as the new government of President Lee Jae Myung seeks to ease tensions with Pyongyang.

While Seoul hopes the gesture might reopen channels for engagement, officials report no sign of North Korea reciprocating South Korean soldiers on Monday began quietly dismantling towering propaganda loudspeakers that used to blare propaganda across the border,

South Korea's military began removing loudspeakers that have been used to blast anti-Pyongyang messages across the border, Seoul's Defense Ministry said Monday.