South Korea’s military said Monday it started removing loudspeakers along its border with North Korea in a move aimed at reducing tension.

The speakers were previously used to blast anti-North Korean propaganda across the border, but the South’s new liberal government halted the broadcasts in June.

The conciliatory gesture looks to rebuild trust and revive dialogue with Pyongyang, North Korea.

South Korea’s Defense Ministry said removing loudspeakers from the border was another "practical measure" aimed at easing tensions between the war-divided Koreas and that it does not affect the South’s military readiness.

Lee Kyung-ho, a spokesperson for the ministry, didn’t share specific details on how the removed loudspeakers will be stored or whether they could be quickly redeployed to the border if tensions flare again between the Koreas.

There were no discussions between the two militaries before the South decided to remove the speakers, Lee said during a briefing.

North Korea, which is extremely sensitive to any outside criticism of its authoritarian leadership and its third-generation ruler, Kim Jong Un, didn’t immediately comment on the South Korean step.