South Korea plans to introduce more powerful loudspeaker systems by the end of this year to boost its ongoing anti-North Korea broadcasting campaign, government notices showed Tuesday.



The Ministry of National Defense's finance management body posted notices on April 4 inviting local suppliers to submit tenders for two types of high-end loudspeaker, according to the military's public bidding website.



According to the procurement postings, the military is seeking to introduce 24 fixed and 16 mobile loudspeakers and has set aside



18.3 billion won (US$16 million) for the purchase. The loudspeakers should be delivered by the end of November.



The plan aims "at replacing aging loudspeakers with high-performance ones in order to enhance the flexibility of broadcasting operations," the notices on the public tender said.



New loudspeakers should be powerful enough for listeners to be able to recognize messages some 10 kilometers away, and they should work in all kinds of weather. The military also wants mobile speakers that have the same capabilities as the stationary speakers.



The latest tender notices came in amid escalating inter-Korean tensions and pointed to the government's willingness to further raise the stakes in its propaganda war against the North.



After turning off the speakers following an agreement reached with the North in June 2004, Seoul restarted broadcasting in retaliation for North Korea's landmine provocation last August.



That attack maimed two South Korean soldiers.



The loudspeakers blare anti-North Korea messages and enticing K-pop music towards the North.



Seoul has continued the operation at some 11 points along the Demilitarized Zone that separates the two countries.



Further escalating tension on the Korean Peninsula, the North carried out more military provocations, including its fourth nuclear test in January and long-range rocket launch in February. (Yonhap)