At midnight local time, the sound of propaganda and pop music from the South Korean side of the border stopped. South Korea’s defense ministry announced the decision to switch off the loudspeakers’ output of news, music and criticism of the North for the first time in two years, hoping it: “Will lead both Koreas to stop mutual criticism and propaganda against each other and also contribute in creating peace and a new beginning.” At the weekend, the North announced it had no further need for nuclear tests, its test site or intercontinental missile launches. However, no mention was made of its stored nuclear materials and equipment. The timing of the announcement, just days before the first meeting between the two sides in a decade was “a green light that improves the prospect of success of the inter-Korea and North-US summits,” South Korea’s Jae-in said on Monday. Hopes for denuclearization The meeting between the two Koreas on Friday is the first in a decade. Preparatory working-group meetings continued on Monday as the two sides set the schedule for the summit to be held at the border village of Panmunjom. The third-ever talks between leaders from the North and South are to…