SEOUL -- The Republic of Korea?halted broadcasting propaganda through loudspeakers in the border area with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Seoul's defense ministry said Wednesday.

The ministry said in a statement that this was a measure to fulfill President Lee Jae-myung's pledge to restore trust in inter-Korean relations and peace on the Korean Peninsula.

The anti-DPRK loudspeaker broadcasts were suspended from Wednesday afternoon, according to media outlets.

Lee, who took office on June 4, pledged during a campaign trail to stop the loudspeaker broadcasts, which were resumed in June last year in retaliation for balloons filled with trash and manure and sent by the DPRK.