North and South Korea are in an underground war - Kim Jong Un might now be winning

The border between North and South Korea is heavily guarded with many layers of barbed wire and numerous watch posts. However, what makes this border unique are the large green speakers placed along it. These speakers broadcast South Korean pop songs and messages aimed at the people living in North Korea. For example, one message said, 'When we travel abroad, it energises us,' which is a clear jab at the fact that North Koreans are not allowed to leave their country. On the other side, North Korea plays its own military music to try to drown out these broadcasts.

Although North and South Korea have not fought openly for many years, they are still technically at war. Instead of using weapons, they are now engaged in a quiet battle of information. South Korea tries to send news, entertainment, and messages into North Korea to help its people learn about the world beyond their borders. North Korea, on the other hand, tightly controls all media inside the country, including TV, radio, and newspapers, to prevent its citizens from hearing anything that might challenge the government’s story.

Behind the scenes, a secret network works to get information into North Korea. Non-profit groups and broadcasters send radio signals late at night, and thousands of USB sticks and micro-SD cards filled with South Korean TV dramas, pop music, and news are smuggled across the border. These materials show North Koreans what life is like in South Korea, highlighting freedoms and lifestyles that are very different from their own. Many defectors say that these foreign shows and music inspired them to escape. However, North Korea has responded by increasing punishments for those caught with foreign media, including imprisonment or even execution. This crackdown has made it more dangerous to share or watch these materials, but the effort to spread information continues despite the risks.