Special to WorldTribune.com

The communist North Korean regime in Pyongyang is known for its belligerence and brinkmanship but not for apologizing. So when South Korean President Park Geun-Hye demanded an apology over the weekend over landmines in the demilitarized zone that wounded South Korean soldiers, hostilities seemed close at hand.

However on early Tuesday, local time, Pyongyang agreed to apologize for planting land mines that maimed two South Korean soldiers on the condition that South Korea unplug the propaganda speakers on its border at the DMZ.

The agreement ended two days of talks to end a tense standoff involving an exchange of artillery fire that had pushed the divided peninsula to brink of war.

Some of the broadcast messages took direct aim at and even taunted North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un.

“Kim Jong-Un’s incompetent regime is trying to deceive the world with its lame lies,” a woman’s voice was heard from one of the banks of 48 speakers set up along the South Korean side of the DMZ. Observers said the messages could travel about 12 miles at night and about half that during the day, well into North Korean territory.

Another message reminded North Koreans that Kim, who took over leadership after his father Kim Jong-Il died in 2011, has yet to travel abroad or meet a single foreign leader.

“(South Korea) President Park Geun-Hye has . . . visited many countries since she became the president, including three visits to China,” one of the recorded messages says. “However, Kim Jong-Un hasn’t visited any other countries in the three-plus years since he became leader.”

The broadcasts would also play K-pop songs like “Tell Me Your Wish” by Girls’ Generation. (“Tell me your wish, tell me your little dream, imagine your ideal type in your head, and look at me, I’m your genie, your dream, your genie.”)

Pyongyang had demanded that the speakers be dismantled, or it would take “strong military action.”

The North’s state-run KCNA news agency said that “psychological warfare against [North Korea] is, in essence, an open act of war against it.”

North Korea has also gone to great lengths to put a stop to successful efforts by activists to send DVDs of “The Interview,” the American comedy that revolves around the assassination of Kim, across the border via balloons.

  DMZ, N. Korea apologizes to stop S. Korean propaganda that featured K-pop, propaganda broadcasts, taunted Kim for never leaving home, WorldTribune.com