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North Korea Expands Retaliatory Loudspeaker Propaganda (yonhapnews.co.kr)

jones_supa writes: North Korea has expanded its own loudspeaker broadcasts along the inter-Korean border as a counteraction to South Korea's retaliatory broadcasts critical of the communist nation, sources said Monday. In retaliation for North's nuclear test last Wednesday, South resumed its anti-Pyongyang broadcast campaign two days later, a form of psychological warfare detested by the communist country, where outside information is tightly blocked out. "The North initially operated its own loudspeakers at two locations and has now expanded to several locations," a government source said. "In fact, the anti-South loudspeaker broadcasts appear to be coming from every location where we are broadcasting." The North Korean broadcasts are not clearly audible from the South Korean side of the border, but mostly deal with internal propaganda messages and music promoting its leader Kim Jong-un. "We are not sure if it's an issue of electric power or the performance of the loudspeakers, but the sound is very weak," another government source said.

146 comments

  1. News for Nerds? by 110010001000 · · Score: 0

    I know this site took down the slogan "News for Nerds. Stuff that matters" from their logo a long time ago, but when did it morph into this?

    1. Re:News for Nerds? by U2xhc2hkb3QgU3Vja3M · · Score: 4, Funny

      Well, I guess we could discuss the possible reasons why their speakers aren't loud enough? That's nerdy, right?

    2. Re:News for Nerds? by 110010001000 · · Score: 1

      What is there to discuss? We know the reason is that the tubes sending the electricity to the speakers isn't wide enough.

    3. Re:News for Nerds? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      Everyone knows that Asians don't make good drivers.

    4. Re:News for Nerds? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Maybe the don't want South Korea to hear it, they won't believe the propaganda anyway. Likely they just want to 'jam' the signal that is heard in North Korea from the south.

    5. Re: News for Nerds? by WarJolt · · Score: 2

      That's not it. They just don't have enough North Koreans to scream into the other end.

    6. Re:News for Nerds? by supremebob · · Score: 1

      I doubt that anyone from North Korea is going to be able to respond with the technical specs of their speaker system without getting shot for doing so.

      South Korea might, though. I wouldn't be surprised if they had some bleeding edge tech from Samsung that has 20X the power of the North Korean system.

    7. Re:News for Nerds? by 110010001000 · · Score: 0

      Ha, +2 insightful? Shouldn't it be +5 Funny?

    8. Re:News for Nerds? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Ha, +2 insightful? Shouldn't it be +5 Funny?

      It probably was.

      The positive mods probably pissed off some uptight holier-than-thou SJW types who downmodded it.

    9. Re:News for Nerds? by ClickOnThis · · Score: 2

      What is there to discuss? We know the reason is that the tubes sending the electricity to the speakers isn't wide enough.

      Those poor North Koreans. If only sanctions weren't in place. Then they could purchase speaker cables that are worthy of their Dear Leader's praises:

      http://www.noiseaddicts.com/20...

      On second thought, let's open a window on the sanctions for this. Maybe we could bankrupt them as they trick-out their audio.

      --
      If it weren't for deadlines, nothing would be late.
    10. Re:News for Nerds? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Speakers are powered by incredible spirit of Dear Leader!! All glory to him!! Dear Leader invent all circuitry and electronics going into this amazing device! Glorious workers show devotion to Dear Leader by constructing it! Please help to defect, we're so hungry. Dear Leader deserves all the glory for this wondrous sound system!

    11. Re:News for Nerds? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      About the time that Dice bought it.

    12. Re:News for Nerds? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "uptight holier-than-thou SJW types"

      Right, and your from the current crop of the type of crowd who gets their undies in a community bunch over that kind of thing?

      Batman is rolling in his grave

    13. Re:News for Nerds? by mikael · · Score: 1

      Is that classified information?

      Reminds me of a showdown between a Jamaican cafe (which liked to blast out Reggae) and another shop which was South Korean. They placed a loudspeaker above their doorway and just played South Korean news.

      --
      Vintage computer adverts: http://www.vintageadbrowser.com/computers-and-software-ads
    14. Re:News for Nerds? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Actually, they are probably more than loud enough for the intended audience: North Koreans who are in earshot of the SK propaganda generators.

    15. Re:News for Nerds? by Trailer+Trash · · Score: 1

      Everyone knows that Asians don't make good drivers.

      My wife isn't a particularly bad driver, but she still prefers that I drive while she "helps" from the passenger seat.

    16. Re:News for Nerds? by thinkwaitfast · · Score: 1

      Hey! You're right. I never noticed (except for the part about no longer being News or Nerds

    17. Re:News for Nerds? by gtall · · Score: 1

      This is much worse than that, the S. Koreans are blasting (among other things) KPop at the Norks. I'm surprised the Norks haven't launched an attack over this dastardly attack of boys and girls groups. Lil' Kim is probably charging up the Fart-O-Cannon connected to the anterior lobes of his posterior and ready to lob ballistic SBD blobs at Seoul. The U.S. has already imposed a baked beans embargo on the Norks but to no avail...they have Double Secret Weapon...the Kimche-of-the-UnDead. The S. Koreans are quaking in their boots right now pleading for the Norks to send their nukes instead.

    18. Re:News for Nerds? by phantomfive · · Score: 1

      What does it mean, that I read that, and started wondering if the Android drivers on Taiwanese phones are really that bad?

      --
      "First they came for the slanderers and i said nothing."
    19. Re:News for Nerds? by Jack+Griffin · · Score: 1

      Back in the day opposing side used to drop propaganda leaflets across enemy territory to ry and plant the seeds of dissent. I can't under stand why a modern version isn't used (ie cheap tablets or mp3 players parachuted from planes) to give the North Koreans an education?
      For the cost of one B2 bomber you could drop one to almost every household in DPRK.

    20. Re:News for Nerds? by Lakitu · · Score: 1

      Well, I guess we could discuss the possible reasons why their speakers aren't loud enough? That's nerdy, right?

      Please don't unfairly criticize the skills of our engineering brethren stuck in North Korea. It has nothing to do with lack of electricity, or proper materials, or whatever.

      It's because the inverse-square law dictates that the South Koreans broadcasting propaganda to the North must broadcast at a much greater volume than the North Koreans broadcasting propaganda to the North Koreans need to do.

  2. I can't work out what this would achieve. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    It's one thing for South Korea to broadcast propaganda to the North: a prosperous, exciting democratic country can make itself look very appealing to people living in a place as awful as North Korea.

    But what do the North Koreans think that they can possibly achieve by broadcasting propaganda to the South? What could a dour, dangerous regime possibly say to convince people that they're the good guys?

    1. Re:I can't work out what this would achieve. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

      They're not doing this to convince the people in the south of anything. They're just drowning out the South Korean propaganda on their own side.
      That's why they don't care that the sound doesn't carry across the border; it just needs to be louder where their own people can hear it.

    2. Re:I can't work out what this would achieve. by epyT-R · · Score: 4, Insightful

      To reenforce the idea that they're just as good, not to the south koreans, but to their own.

    3. Re:I can't work out what this would achieve. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      The obvious explanations are:

      1. The south isn't the target. The intent is to counter/drown out the south's propaganda as heard by the residents of the north. (the "he's lying" gambit").

      2. The people in charge of the north think that the south must face the same challenges with their population being easily convinced to abandon them because they haven't figured out how to solve the problem for themselves.

    4. Re: I can't work out what this would achieve. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Interesting

      When I toured North Korea a few years ago I once saw (and got a neat video of) a truck driving around with massive loudspeakers blaring propaganda, and that was far from the border.

    5. Re:I can't work out what this would achieve. by ShanghaiBill · · Score: 5, Interesting

      But what do the North Koreans think that they can possibly achieve by broadcasting propaganda to the South?

      You might be surprised. There are a fair number of North Korea sympathizers in South Korea, especially in the Jeonju region, where the Kim family originates. Before and during WW2, Kim Il Sung led the resistance to the Japanese, and many people, North and South, saw him as a national hero. When the Americans occupied South Korea in 1945, they kept the existing government, which consisted entirely of Koreans that had collaborated with the Japanese, and were detested by most Koreans. When the Korean war started in 1950, many southerners rallied to Kim's effort to unify the nation. Following the war, there was still many people in SK that saw NK as the "true" Korea. Also, NK was actually more prosperous than SK until around 1970 or so, and both governments were repressive. After that, the SK economy took off, they became a democracy, and support for NK faded, but it has not entirely disappeared.

    6. Re:I can't work out what this would achieve. by king+neckbeard · · Score: 1

      How long would that support last if they were actually in NK?

      --
      This is my signature. There are many like it, but this one is mine.
    7. Re:I can't work out what this would achieve. by gmack · · Score: 1

      You have to remember the place is a large personality cult run by a childish megalomaniac and many North Koreans think they have it better than those in the south. Even if they know better, they must still act as if they have total faith that North Korea is the best place in the world to live if they want to avoid a reeducation camp or worse yet (especially if they are in leadership) execution.

    8. Re:I can't work out what this would achieve. by Fire_Wraith · · Score: 2

      That's certainly a part of it. It's a lot easier to believe the propaganda when you're not directly confronted with the truth on a day to day basis. That doesn't make them any less wrong or delusional, but it's not unimaginable. People in general can bring themselves to believe some incredibly insane shit, especially when they've surrounded themselves with a lot of like-minded individuals. Studies have shown that pointing out the truth of the matter just causes them to become even more fervent about it, because by that point, they've made those falsehoods a part of their belief system, and attacks on those beliefs are the same as attacks on their very sense of self.

    9. Re:I can't work out what this would achieve. by gtall · · Score: 1

      So you are saying the Norks are aiming their loudspeakers at their own people? Those bastards.

    10. Re: I can't work out what this would achieve. by phantomfive · · Score: 1

      In Japan, it's against the law to buy political advertisements in a lot of mediums, so politicians send trucks around with loudspeakers telling people to vote for them.

      --
      "First they came for the slanderers and i said nothing."
    11. Re:I can't work out what this would achieve. by U2xhc2hkb3QgU3Vja3M · · Score: 1

      People in general can bring themselves to believe some incredibly insane shit, especially when they've surrounded themselves with a lot of like-minded individuals. Studies have shown that pointing out the truth of the matter just causes them to become even more fervent about it, because by that point, they've made those falsehoods a part of their belief system, and attacks on those beliefs are the same as attacks on their very sense of self.

      Sounds like Emacs vs Vi, console/OS/car/etc fanboys.

      By the way, your editor/console/OS/car is crap.

    12. Re: I can't work out what this would achieve. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "People in general can bring themselves to believe some incredibly insane shit, especially when they've surrounded themselves with a lot of like-minded individuals."

      Ah, like modern universities then?

    13. Re: I can't work out what this would achieve. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Mayor Dewey! Mayor Dewey!

      Like that but in real life?

    14. Re:I can't work out what this would achieve. by Big+Hairy+Ian · · Score: 1

      Ozzy Osborn's suing both sides for patent infringment

      --

      Build a Man a Fire, and He'll Be Warm for a Day. Set a Man on Fire, and He'll Be Warm for the Rest of His Life.

  3. Maximum range of a speaker by ickleberry · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Have the South Koreans made any notable technological advances in increasing the maximum range of a speaker or making highly directional speakers that can reach Pyongyang from across the DMZ?

    1. Re:Maximum range of a speaker by 110010001000 · · Score: 4, Funny

      Yes. Unfortunately the new speakers arrived and the directions were all in Chinese.

    2. Re:Maximum range of a speaker by gstoddart · · Score: 1

      LOL ... Oh, I don't know if you need that much in the way of advances ... my brother used to have a car I could hear coming when it was still well over a mile away because of the god-awful crazy stereo in it ... our dog could hear it from much further and came out of his house to wait.

      I'm pretty sure most rock bands have probably solved the problem of maximum range of a speaker.

      More loudly. That's it.

      --
      Lost at C:>. Found at C.
    3. Re:Maximum range of a speaker by ickleberry · · Score: 2

      There I was hoping a bunch of young nerds at KAIST had found a way to send a highly directional magnetic field at the Ryugyong hotel or some statue of Kim Il Sung causing it to reverberate to the tune of op, op, oppa Gangnam style...heyyyyy sexy lady and traumatising all loyal Kim dynasty followers within a 4 mile radius

    4. Re:Maximum range of a speaker by mikael · · Score: 1

      Only option would be to bounce radio waves off the ionosphere. It worked back in 1989. People in Scotland could receive local FM stations from Norway. But you need a high class solar flare for that to work.

      --
      Vintage computer adverts: http://www.vintageadbrowser.com/computers-and-software-ads
    5. Re:Maximum range of a speaker by tlhIngan · · Score: 1

      A Parametric Speaker travels long distances and is highly directional. They basically work by emitting the sound as ultrasonic waves (which because of their higher frequency, do not have the dispersal as lower frequency waves do). When those waves bounce off something, it causes a downmix to happen bringing the audio back to audible hearing range.

      But the sound travels farther, and if it hits you dead on, it sounds like it's coming from inside your head. And it's directional so while you're broadcasting, people standing beside you don't hear a thing. Might drive the dogs nuts, though.

      It is spooky to have this and playing some music, then bouncing it off a far wall and hearing the music originate from the wall. People with directional hearing will swear it came from that location. Bouncing it off a ceiling and you get the same effect.

      I'm sure someone somewhere is about to make an emitter so you can use it for the new object based audio systems (Dolby Atmos/DTS:X) which require ceiling speakers. You could use this technology to simply point the virtual speaker at a spot on the ceiling without having to wire up a whole new set of speakers.

    6. Re:Maximum range of a speaker by dsmatthews9379 · · Score: 1

      No the Wang Pong is over 100 km from the DMZ but they may be using phase arrays to make their rigs far more directional.

    7. Re:Maximum range of a speaker by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      A Parametric Speaker [wikipedia.org] travels long distances and is highly directional. They basically work by emitting the sound as ultrasonic waves (which because of their higher frequency, do not have the dispersal as lower frequency waves do).

      Except for the problem that attenuation increases rapidly with frequency, especially if there is any amount of humidity in the air. For ~30 kHz, there is about 1 dB/m of attenuation, instead of the ~1dB/ 100 m for 1000 Hz.

  4. Mystery. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    The North seems to be broadcasting Katy Perry's song "Firework" over and over again for some mysterious reason.

    1. Re:Mystery. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I hope they've paid a licence fee for that.

    2. Re:Mystery. by Mr+D+from+63 · · Score: 1

      Man, what an irritating neighbor!

    3. Re:Mystery. by epyT-R · · Score: 1

      Nah.. More like gangnam style..

    4. Re:Mystery. by twistedsymphony · · Score: 1

      WOOOOOSH

  5. Speakers by DigiShaman · · Score: 2

    THat's when happens when you import reverse engineered jensen speakers. Amateurs.

    Me?? JBLs, Kickers, etc with Ministry and KMFDM blasted to 11!

    --
    Life is not for the lazy.
    1. Re:Speakers by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Jensen speakers are second only to the Vivid Thunders..

      South Korea has much to fear.
      https://youtu.be/gQvCvNG2VU4?t...

    2. Re:Speakers by PopeRatzo · · Score: 1

      Me?? JBLs, Kickers, etc with Ministry and KMFDM blasted to 11!

      When I become president for life, I'm appointing you Minister of Music.

      --
      You are welcome on my lawn.
    3. Re:Speakers by jjbenz · · Score: 1

      Hau Ruck!

  6. I can donate a halfstack to the cause! by wkwilley2 · · Score: 2

    Whoever has the highest decibel reading in the center of the DMZ wins the title "Best Korea"

    The south will rise again!!!

    --
    Have you ever fallen asleep at the keybhanusdiog?
    1. Re:I can donate a halfstack to the cause! by gstoddart · · Score: 1

      Hmmmm ... if it's purely decibel rating, then I assume their artillery is going to be far louder.

      --
      Lost at C:>. Found at C.
    2. Re:I can donate a halfstack to the cause! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      But can it compare with the warmth of Soviet tubes?

    3. Re:I can donate a halfstack to the cause! by Joe_Dragon · · Score: 1

      and when we nuke back that will be even loader.

    4. Re:I can donate a halfstack to the cause! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      loader?

      Go back to pre-school.

  7. the REAL reason for this might surprise you. by nimbius · · Score: 3, Funny

    Sure, a loudspeaker campaign might not seem like the most tactful or appropriate means to an end of nearly half a century of aggression but take for a moment to consider this: Korea, both north and south, has succeeded in creating the worlds only 160 mile long insufferable asian shouting contest. Thats right. while problems like global warming, climate change, systemic poverty, famine, and clean potable drinking water exist around the globe we can all take comfort in knowing Korea, both north and south, have taken the important first step of solving the major global defecit of a 160 mile audible pissing contest.

    --
    Good people go to bed earlier.
    1. Re:the REAL reason for this might surprise you. by Howitzer86 · · Score: 3, Insightful

      You've listed: climate change, climate change, poverty, poverty, and poverty.

      Some people care about things you may not care about. Not everyone's hyperbolic about western liberal talking points. Some people are more concerned about local issues, like the hundreds of artillery shells trained on their cities for the past half century by an extremely hostile enemy with nuclear weapons.

    2. Re:the REAL reason for this might surprise you. by gstoddart · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Korea, both north and south, has succeeded in creating the worlds only 160 mile long insufferable asian shouting contest

      Which, arguably, is better than a shooting contest.

      Don't forget, North and South Korea are still technically at war with one another.

      Frankly, I'd rather the pissing contest ... because all of the stuff you say would happen even more so as a result of them resuming open warfare. But, hey, they could go back to killing one another by the thousands if you somehow think that's better.

      --
      Lost at C:>. Found at C.
    3. Re:the REAL reason for this might surprise you. by bkmoore · · Score: 1

      .... we can all take comfort in knowing Korea, both north and south, have taken the important first step of solving the major global defecit of a 160 mile audible pissing contest.

      There are no civilians within miles of the DMZ. "If a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?"

    4. Re:the REAL reason for this might surprise you. by DarkOx · · Score: 1

      while problems like global warming, climate change, systemic poverty, famine, and clean potable drinking water

      I strongly suspect the audible pissing contest, is a better alternative on every single issue you mention to a shooting war on the Korean peninsula.

      --
      Repeal the 17th Amendment TODAY! Also Please Read http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/right-to-read.html
    5. Re:the REAL reason for this might surprise you. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I suggest you look up "Operation Paul Bunyan."

    6. Re:the REAL reason for this might surprise you. by thinkwaitfast · · Score: 1

      True, but famine is more of a political problem (as a weapon).

  8. Must be the B52 freedom field by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Causing interference with the red communist death cult propaganda.

  9. The pen is mightier than the sword. by SeaFox · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Am I the only one amused the Korean War has come to the point of being a literal shouting match between the two countries?

    1. Re:The pen is mightier than the sword. by 110010001000 · · Score: 0

      I'm pretty sure the rockets pointed at Seoul are more powerful than any pen.

    2. Re:The pen is mightier than the sword. by Tablizer · · Score: 1

      S.K.: "You are a big dummy head!"

      N.K.: "You are an extra big dummy head!"

      S.K.: "You are a doo doo face!"

      N.K.: "You are an extra big doo doo face; and extra stinky!"

      S.K.: "I know you are, but what am I?"

      N.K.: "A big stupid!"

      S.K. "Well, your mother wears army boots!"

      N.K.: "So, what's wrong with that?"

      Etc...

    3. Re:The pen is mightier than the sword. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Am I the only one amused the Korean War has come to the point of being a literal shouting match between the two countries?

      I am relieved. I hope that it stays a shouting match.

  10. Or as Clinton says by raymorris · · Score: 1

    The penis, mightier than the sword.

    1. Re:Or as Clinton says by shawn2772 · · Score: 4, Funny

      The penis, mightier than the sword.

      My dad's neighbor's Wifi SSID was "penismightier". It surprised me the first time I saw it (this is a pretty conservative Mormon area) until I manged to mentally reparse it. I pointed it out to my dad, who said he'd been laughing about it every time he saw it, ever since they set it up. My mom finally mentioned it to the neighbors one day and they were shocked and horrified. They had never noticed the "phallic" parse, believe it or not. They changed it immediately.

    2. Re:Or as Clinton says by 110010001000 · · Score: 0

      There is a reason the difference between a Moron and a Mormon is a single letter.

    3. Re:Or as Clinton says by shawn2772 · · Score: 2

      There is a reason the difference between a Moron and a Mormon is a single letter.

      Because Mormons tend not to have dirty minds? I'm a Mormon, BTW.

    4. Re:Or as Clinton says by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Well considering you post with your real name I am not surprised that you are both.

      He's ahead of you... He's just getting prepared for universal FB logins!

    5. Re:Or as Clinton says by wyHunter · · Score: 1

      I'm NOT LDS but am privileged to have many as friends, so I'll answer this. No, because lots of Yanks hate Mormons because THEY are morons.

    6. Re:Or as Clinton says by 110010001000 · · Score: 0

      I'm not sure why it is a "privilege" to have friends who are cult members that believe in magic underwear and that the Earth is 7000 years old, but if that is what you consider a friend, then I am proud to be a moron.

    7. Re:Or as Clinton says by operagost · · Score: 1

      Sean Connery's SSID used to be that until he changed it to, "SUCKITTREBEK"

      --

      Gamingmuseum.com: Give your 3D accelerator a rest.
    8. Re:Or as Clinton says by halivar · · Score: 1

      I consider a friendship a privilege if they're the sort of people who will bring a pick up truck and a strong back at 3 AM if I need it. I can have stimulating conversation with a stranger, or even an enemy. For the most part, I have found Mormons (and even JW's) to be delightful people, even if I think their theology is wacko. I have atheist friends who feel the same about my own theology, so I can hardly judge. The point of friendship is mutual personal enrichment, if even through sacrifice; not intelligent conversation.

    9. Re:Or as Clinton says by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      As a Mormon, do you put your faith in God, or in humans?

      I will add that your holy books were all written by humans, and the logical arguments they give you to convince you they were written by God....those arguments were cooked-up by humans too. Your religion is humans all the way down.

      But if you want to believe the humans who claim to know the mind of God, you are free to do so.

    10. Re:Or as Clinton says by Firethorn · · Score: 1

      Because Mormons tend not to have dirty minds? I'm a Mormon, BTW.

      I don't have a problem with people who don't have dirty minds. I have a problem with people who do have dirty minds and are determined to not only not enjoy it, but to make sure others don't enjoy it either.

      IE "penismightier" gets a giggle out of me and I proceed on with life. I don't embarrass my neighbors over it, though as mentioned, I might bring it up in a polite way to make sure they understand ALL the meanings.

      In this case, at least you and your parents weren't calling, for example, for a law against 'profane' SSIDs, fines, and regular police patrols.

      --
      I don't read AC A human right
    11. Re:Or as Clinton says by wyHunter · · Score: 1

      This. I'm somewhat sorry for 110010001000 who probably will never know what friends are, and friendship is, because he can't conceive of someone doing something like this. And I agree with the friendship definition.

    12. Re:Or as Clinton says by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You haven't seen my pen.

    13. Re:Or as Clinton says by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Of course you're proud to be a moron. All bigots are.

    14. Re:Or as Clinton says by Jack+Griffin · · Score: 1

      I can have stimulating conversation with a stranger...

      Unless it's about physics, validity of other religions, sexual preferences, equal rights, geology, drugs etc etc.

    15. Re:Or as Clinton says by sociocapitalist · · Score: 1

      The penis, mightier than the sword.

      My dad's neighbor's Wifi SSID was "penismightier". It surprised me the first time I saw it (this is a pretty conservative Mormon area) until I manged to mentally reparse it. I pointed it out to my dad, who said he'd been laughing about it every time he saw it, ever since they set it up. My mom finally mentioned it to the neighbors one day and they were shocked and horrified. They had never noticed the "phallic" parse, believe it or not. They changed it immediately.

      Like this Samsung ad gone wrong...
      http://static.ibnlive.in.com/i...

      --
      blindly antisocialist = antisocial
    16. Re:Or as Clinton says by halivar · · Score: 1

      You are only stimulated by conversations in which all parties agree on everything? That's a pretty dull dinner party.

    17. Re:Or as Clinton says by KGIII · · Score: 1

      The dude's name is binary for 1488 which is some white supremacy/Hitler stuff. You can actually just ignore them or make fun of them and probably be okay with that choice.

      --
      "So long and thanks for all the fish."
    18. Re:Or as Clinton says by Jack+Griffin · · Score: 1

      You are only stimulated by conversations in which all parties agree on everything? That's a pretty dull dinner party.

      Where did I say that? I'm stimulated by people who are open to discussion and form their opinions based on reason or personal experience, rather than because some dude in a funny hat told them to have that opinion.
      I've had plenty of discussions with religious people and it always ends the same way. They believe the magic fairies and that's the end of it. Boring.

  11. Has anyone tried drones by presidenteloco · · Score: 1

    with loudspeakers on them?

    Not trying to give anyone any ideas.

    --

    Where are we going and why are we in a handbasket?
    1. Re:Has anyone tried drones by Actually,+I+do+RTFA · · Score: 1

      Overflights by government aircraft are pretty clearly casus belli

      See, why everyone freaked out about Turkey claiming Russia was overflying their space. The difference is Turkey (as a NATO member) and Russia (as, well Russia) are not eager for war. Cause, you know, the planet ending consequences. N. Korea may be crazy enough, and S. Korea could be all but wiped out but the artillery alone before anyone can hit back.

      --
      Your ad here. Ask me how!
    2. Re:Has anyone tried drones by presidenteloco · · Score: 1

      I mean cute little quadcopter drones with extra-big batteries (and a happy face painted on the underside).

      --

      Where are we going and why are we in a handbasket?
  12. Noise cancelling? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Why doesn't North Korea just take the soundwaves and inverse them, effectively noise cancelling them?

    1. Re:Noise cancelling? by presidenteloco · · Score: 1

      Sound bounces and distorts/phase shifts/interferes/is selectively dampened/... all over the place.
      Not practical to invert at a distance in any complex environment.

      --

      Where are we going and why are we in a handbasket?
    2. Re:Noise cancelling? by thinkwaitfast · · Score: 1

      Too big of an area. Too many atmospheric differences, too many paths. Sounds like an interesting problem, but don't think solvable. If you could place the cancelling speakers next to the broadcast speakers (or listener) then yes.

    3. Re: Noise cancelling? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      No fun. Also, my cone is bigger than yours.

  13. The response to offensive speech... by shawn2772 · · Score: 1

    The response to offensive speech is speech that drowns out the offensive speech?

    I suppose to Kim Jong Il that's an obviously-true statement. Well, when one can't just shoot the source of the offensive speech, anyway.

    1. Re:The response to offensive speech... by Foobar+of+Borg · · Score: 1

      I suppose to Kim Jong Il that's an obviously-true statement. Well, when one can't just shoot the source of the offensive speech, anyway.

      Wait, Kim Jong-Il rose from the dead? Man, no wonder those North Koreans think he's a god!

    2. Re:The response to offensive speech... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The response to offensive speech is speech that drowns out the offensive speech?

      ...

      And what else do you expect from leftists?

      A thoughtful response?

      Ever see what college leftists do if a college tries to invite a speaker who dares to do something other than regurgitate left-wing dogma?

    3. Re:The response to offensive speech... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The current leader is Kim Jong Un

  14. We must close the loudspeaker gap! by NotDrWho · · Score: 1, Interesting

    Lockheed Martin has already won the contract to build a much larger, louder loudspeaker. It will cost $40 billion, with construction spread across every Congressional district, and take an estimated 10 years to complete--but it will be worth it in the end to show the Red Menace that Uncle Sam means BUSINESS!

    --
    SJW's don't eliminate discrimination. They just expropriate it for themselves.
    1. Re:We must close the loudspeaker gap! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Lockheed Martin has already won the contract to build a much larger, louder loudspeaker. It will cost $40 billion...

      If Lockheed Martin is the winner, better budget another $10B for cost overrun...

    2. Re:We must close the loudspeaker gap! by Fire_Wraith · · Score: 1

      Obligatory XKCD:
      https://xkcd.com/670/

  15. Noise cancelling by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    Why don't they just use noise cancelling technology and take the inverse of the soundwave that is blaring at them and blast it out also?

    1. Re:Noise cancelling by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      That is position-sensitive. It would only work for a specific point. Move a few inches and you would have double the sound...

    2. Re:Noise cancelling by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      That only well works in a controlled environment - in a complex environment with multiple sound reflecting surfaces between source and "cancelling", it becomes effectively impossible, especially with NK's low available finances available for the project.

    3. Re:Noise cancelling by wonkey_monkey · · Score: 1

      Why don't they just

      "Just"? That's a bit like asking why we don't "just" build a space elevator instead of all this farting around with rockets.

      --
      systemd is Roko's Basilisk.
    4. Re:Noise cancelling by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Are you always snarky whenever anybody asks a question?

  16. it's a phase problem by swschrad · · Score: 1

    Fearless Leader is having one of those phases, again. it is not permitted in Nut Korea to invert the meaning of anything.

    --
    if this is supposed to be a new economy, how come they still want my old fashioned money?
  17. DJing by Eric.pl · · Score: 1

    Wondering whether they settled on a common BPM and whether both tracks are synced from time to time.

    1. Re:DJing by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Wondering whether they settled on a common BPM and whether both tracks are synced from time to time.

      I hear if you watch the Korean War with the sound off and play Dark Side of the Moon, it syncs up!

  18. It's not the Volume! by TechyImmigrant · · Score: 1

    It's the quality that matters. They should have used tube/thermionic valve amplifiers, in class A.

    --
    I should use this sig to advertise my book ISBN-13 : 978-1501515132.
  19. Party rock, or... by PopeRatzo · · Score: 1

    In my imagination, once side is playing Party Rock Anthem and the other side is blasting Meshuggah's Bleed.

    https://youtu.be/qc98u-eGzlc

    https://youtu.be/pIOOwhmkoLo

    I haven't decided which side is playing which.

    --
    You are welcome on my lawn.
  20. Music for a more peaceful world by PopeRatzo · · Score: 1

    If you wanted to set up giant loudspeakers, what music would you play to promote world peace and harmony?

    I'll start:

    https://youtu.be/l32vqiRTGew

    --
    You are welcome on my lawn.
    1. Re:Music for a more peaceful world by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      If you wanted to set up giant loudspeakers, what music would you play to promote world peace and harmony?

      I'll start:

      https://youtu.be/l32vqiRTGew

      http://www.wallofsound.ws/

  21. Socialism by ooloorie · · Score: 1

    Sorry, but socialism doesn't get any more attractive even when it's blasted at you at 150 dB.

  22. They are missing the point by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    The North Korean broadcasts are not clearly audible from the South Korean side of the border, but mostly deal with internal propaganda messages and music promoting its leader Kim Jong-un. "We are not sure if it's an issue of electric power or the performance of the loudspeakers, but the sound is very weak," another government source said.

    It most certainly is rather an issue of directivity. The North Korean loudspeakers will most certainly point into North Korea. They are not "retaliation" but are drowning out the South Korean broadcasts. Being located further into North Korea, they probably achieve that purpose pretty well.

  23. It's not retaliatory by wonkey_monkey · · Score: 1

    North Korea Expands Retaliatory Loudspeaker Propaganda

    It's not so much retaliatory as mitigatory.

    --
    systemd is Roko's Basilisk.
  24. Technical problem by paiute · · Score: 1

    They didn't spring for the Audioquest Everest cables with Counter Spiralling Geometry and Spread Spectrum Technology. Only 21 grand, American.

    --
    If Slashdot were chemistry it would look like this:Cadaverine
  25. licensing by Lead+Butthead · · Score: 1

    odd you don't see RIAA screaming and threatening NK for that. In that respect I (almost) envy them...

    --
    ELOI, ELOI, LAMA SABACHTHANI!?
  26. Marshall Stack by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Do the words "Marshall Stack" mean anything to you?

    1. Re:Marshall Stack by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      In North Korea it means "the dear leaders hair cut"

  27. The Western Roman Empire by Max_W · · Score: 1

    I have an impression that the capital of Western Roman Empire just moved to the D.C.

    It still includes Gaul, Visigoths, Britannia, the border still fluctuates along Danube river.

    Now the North Korea. Is it really necessary to include it too? Why for a change not to allow this people to have their own history? Let them sort out their issues themselves.

  28. It's propaganda for their own people by bobbied · · Score: 5, Insightful

    They (the North) are just making noise so their own people cannot hear the propaganda from the south. Is this so hard to understand? EVERYTHING the North does is about how it plays INTERNALLY which is why they come across so nutty to the outside world. NK must carefully control the "truth" as it is commonly understood within their country.

    If the reality of the situation where ever understood by the North Korean masses they would be in open revolt and fleeing their country. If they ever caught on that the majority of the world isn't starving and generally laughs at their "supreme leader" as being a fat slob who keeps his people poor and destitute in his quest for keeping power it would all be over in days. That North Korea is generally considered a joke, and that it's military power, though dangerous, is out matched, out gunned and out manned. That the minefields in the DMZ do more to keep citizens in North Korea than keeping military forces from the south out. That they are starving, only because the "Little Un" must stay in power.

    So they are pointing their speakers the same direction as the South's are. They are all pointed north. Which is why you cannot hear them in the South, because it wouldn't matter and North Korea knows it.

    --
    "File to fit, pound to insert, paint to match" - Aircraft Maintenance 101
    1. Re:It's propaganda for their own people by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      That the minefields in the DMZ do more to keep citizens in North Korea than keeping military forces from the south out.

      This was also true of the Berlin wall and FRG/GDR border in the 80s. The militarization fo the border all occured on the eastern side; there were no defences on the western side because they weren't trying to keep anybody out. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inner_German_border#Border_line

  29. It very much is the volume! by Firethorn · · Score: 1

    Back in the day, the USA produced a speaker powered by a V-8 Hemi. It was intended to be mounted on a tall tower and blast out emergency sirens for dozens of miles.

    The mythbusters hooked a speaker up to a 4 cylinder diesel to try to break the car windows, but that wasn't as loud.

    --
    I don't read AC A human right
    1. Re:It very much is the volume! by TechyImmigrant · · Score: 1

      Back in the day, the USA produced a speaker powered by a V-8 Hemi. It was intended to be mounted on a tall tower and blast out emergency sirens for dozens of miles.

      The mythbusters hooked a speaker up to a 4 cylinder diesel to try to break the car windows, but that wasn't as loud.

      A siren or a speaker? I can see an engine pumping air into a forced cavity oscillation, but as a generator for an electrically amplified speaker, a V-8 Hemi would be pretty dumb.

      --
      I should use this sig to advertise my book ISBN-13 : 978-1501515132.
  30. The contents of the message by MobyDisk · · Score: 2

    If I had control of loudspeakers that could cover a large area like that, I would have it repeat a recording of someone saying "ok google show me silly pictures of Kim Jong-un." Unfortunately, they probably don't have too many smart phones over there.

    1. Re:The contents of the message by U2xhc2hkb3QgU3Vja3M · · Score: 1

      Probably no smart phones, no Internet, no Wi-Fi, no 3G/4G/5G/etc, no cellphone towers, etc.

      In fact, I've heard they don't even have electricity, water, food, houses, clothes, molecules or atoms.

    2. Re:The contents of the message by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You jest, but North Korea has an intranet for some of its wealthier citizens -- only the most devout adepts get to connect to the one router to the outside, purely for the purposes of spreading propaganda and hacking foreign entities. For the people who can't afford intranet, they can still get their news over their landline radios (yes, that's a thing).

  31. Beware the Speaker Gap! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Beware the Speaker Gap. It is caused by not yet having achieved Peak Propaganda. Once we get the new Mil-Spec audio drivers in place with carbon nanotube reinforced Double-Speak, we anticipate victory over our nefarious opponents!

  32. Notable technological advances by GPS+Pilot · · Score: 1

    Have the South Koreans made any notable technological advances in increasing the maximum range of a speaker

    No, but the French have. Devialet Silver Phantom produces 105 dB sound pressure levels

    --
    That that is is that that that that is not is not.
  33. Is the South really broadcasting "propaganda"? by GPS+Pilot · · Score: 2

    I would like to know the nature of the South's "propaganda" broadcasts. If the South is simply providing factual information about the outside world to residents of the North, "propaganda" is not a good term for it.

    --
    That that is is that that that that is not is not.
    1. Re:Is the South really broadcasting "propaganda"? by bobbied · · Score: 1

      One man's truth is another's propaganda you know...

      What do you THINK they are saying? I'm guessing that it's something like, "Come on over the DMZ the water is warm over here, we will welcome you with open arms and help you." Along with stuff like "Un is lying to you... " and "A unified Korea is possible!"

      --
      "File to fit, pound to insert, paint to match" - Aircraft Maintenance 101
    2. Re:Is the South really broadcasting "propaganda"? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The BBC has you covered.

      "Korean loudspeakers: What are the North and South shouting about?"
      http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-35278451

      tl;dr? Weather reports, dramas what I'd call "talk radio" about how great the South is, and kpop.

    3. Re:Is the South really broadcasting "propaganda"? by KGIII · · Score: 1

      A neat effect on that page - scroll down until you see the metal loudspeakers and then scroll up and down with that image at the bottom - do it slowly and it almost has a 3D-esque effect. It's just about halfway down on the page, it's the guy looking up/working on the speakers. If you put it at the bottom of the screen and scroll up and down (so that it's not always on the screen) and do it with decent timing, it's kind of neat.

      Yes, I'm easily amused.

      --
      "So long and thanks for all the fish."
  34. Whew! by meglon · · Score: 1

    ....mostly deal with internal propaganda messages and music promoting its leader Kim Jong-un.

    There for a minute i thought it would be something truly horrendously horrible... like rap or country music.

    --
    Fascism: An authoritarian and nationalistic right-wing system of government and social organization. See also: NAZI's
  35. Honest question. by requerdanos · · Score: 1

    Not being familiar with standards and conditions throughout the region, my first question on hearing about the speaker-propaganda was "Why not a 100000 watt FM transmitter instead?"

    I would think that even one radio receiver in a populated area would have better reach than loudspeakers across the DMZ?

    1. Re:Honest question. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      FM transmitter only works if your target audience has receivers. I suspect radio receivers are highly controlled items in the DPRK.

    2. Re:Honest question. by SuiteSisterMary · · Score: 1

      FM transmitter only works if your target audience has receivers. I suspect radio receivers are highly controlled items in the DPRK.

      I think he meant more along the lines of 'wouldn't it piss off South Korea if the DPRK started broadcasting, at way WAY overamped power levels, propaganda and pro-KJ1 music on the same frequencies as South Korea's more popular FM stations.'

      --
      Vintage computer games and RPG books available. Email me if you're interested.
  36. Bowie by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I wonder if the South Koreans had their speakers blasting David Bowie songs all day?

  37. Loudspeakers? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Are we talking about grown up people here?

  38. They speakers aren't for S Korea by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    They are likely just loud enough to drown out S Korea's campaign and keep N Koreans from hearing it. They know it's pointless to propagandize S Koreans.

  39. Speaker Gap! by DarthVain · · Score: 1

    All of this reminded me of the lunacy of the movie Dr. Strangeglove, with military leaders explaining about the Mine Gap.

    We need more speakers, bigger and louder ones too, otherwise our enemies will have a speaker advantage!