Media of North Korea
Encyclopedia
The media of North Korea is one of the most strictly controlled in the world. As a result, information is tightly controlled both into and out of North Korea
. The constitution provides for freedom of speech
and the press
; however, the government prohibits the exercise of these rights in practice. In its 2009 report, Reporters Without Borders
classified the media environment in North Korea as 174 out of 175, only above that of Eritrea
.
The state
news agency, the Korean Central News Agency
, provides the only source of information for all media outlets in North Korea.
, one of the most highly controlled in the world. Article 53 of the North Korean Constitution protects freedom of speech
and freedom of the press
, but only if expressions are supportive of the government
and Workers' Party of Korea
. As stated in the Constitution, the role of the press is to:
Kim Jong-il's book, Guidance for Journalists, advises that "newspapers carry articles in which they unfailingly hold the president in high esteem, adore him and praise him as the great revolutionary leader". Media reports in North Korea are often one-sided and exaggerated, playing "little or no role in gathering and disseminating vital information true to facts" and providing propaganda
for the regime.
All North Korean journalists are members of the ruling party, the Workers Party of Korea. Journalists who do not follow the strict laws face punishment in the form of hard labour or imprisonment, even for the smallest typing errors. Only news that favours the regime is permitted, whilst news that covers the economic and political problems in the country, or criticisms of the regime from abroad is not allowed. Domestic media and the population itself are not allowed to carry or read stories by foreign media and can be punished for doing so.
Restrictions are also placed on the foreign journalists that are allowed into the country under supervision, though many are not permitted to enter. All the information gathered by newspapers and magazines is disseminated by the main news agency, KCNA
. No private press exists. The media effectively paints the country in a positive light, describing itself "paradise on earth". With this, it encourages the population to adopt the "socialist lifestyle" — on one occasion an intensive media campaign was launched against men with long hair, claiming it reduces intelligence
.
of Kim Jong-Il
, regularly reporting on his daily activities, frequently including "prayers" to the former leader Kim Il-Sung
. Previously, media would refer to Kim Jong-Il as the "Dear Leader", though this was dropped in 2004. However, in January 1981, during the first few months of Kim Jong-Il's entry into politics, a survey revealed economic concerns in the media, rather than upholding the cult—60% to 70% of media coverage was focused on the economy in January that year, and between January and September, 54% of editorials in the Nodung Sinmun also referred to economic problems, with only 20% on politics, 10% on reunification and 4% on foreign affairs
.
Approximately 90% of airtime on international news broadcasts in North Korea is propaganda
spent describing the publication of works by Kim Jong-Il and showing various study groups in foreign countries, in an effort to allegedly mislead the North Korean public as to the outside world's perceptions of the country. When Kim Jong-Il visited Russia
in August 2001, official DPRK media reported Russians as being "awestruck" by the encounter, revering Kim Jong-Il's ability to "stop the rain and make the sun come out
".
, Israel
, Japan
and the United States
) relevant policies towards the country; any actions deemed unfavourable to the DPRK, its leaders or political system
are strongly condemned in the official media.
Though some international news coverage is given in DPRK media, much is ignored, is mentioned very briefly, or is announced several days after the event, as was the case with the Ryongchon disaster
in 2004. Reports are also notoriously secretive. The media remained silent on domestic issues, by not reporting on economic reforms introduced by the government such as increasing wages and food prices, rarely mentioning Kim Jong-Il until his first party position in 1980 and the launching of missiles
. Restrictions on the dissemination of information do not only apply to the civilian population, but to North Korean officials themselves, depending on ranking.
In contrast, the idea of reunification of the two Koreas
is a pervasive theme in the North Korean media, as is the near constant "threat" of an "imminent attack" by the United States, Japan, Israel, or other nations. In recent years, the media describes in detail satellite launches launched by the country as a sign of the DPRKs "economic prowess." The media rarely reports bad news from the country; however on one rare occasion, the press acknowledged a famine
and food shortages in the 1990s.
It has had a role in supporting anti-government demonstrations in South Korea; in the late 1980s it launched a propaganda campaign urging South Koreans to "fight against the 'government' without concessions and compromise", using false claims to portray the demonstrations as fighting for communism
, which, rather, were in support of liberal democracy
. It continues to support South Korean anti-government groups, quoting relevant societies and unions critical of the government policy and denouncing government "crackdowns", calling for freedom of expression and democracy for South Korean citizens. From January 1 to June 22, 2009, North Korean media was reported to have criticised the South Korean president
1,700 times — an average of 9.9 times daily.
During the Khrushchev
era of the Soviet Union
when relations were tense, North Korean media would openly reprint articles critical of the USSR, often written by Chinese
officials. However, once relations between the DPRK and Soviet Union improved, the articles would no longer appear. In the following years, both Russian and North Korean media would play down sensitive anniversaries.
. South Korean government ministries and laws are referred to in quotations
, such as the "Ministry of Defense" or "National Security Law", to imply illegitimacy. Also places like the United States, Israel, and Japan are often referred as the "evil empire".
. Foreign newspapers are not sold on the streets of the capital. Every year, North Korean press jointly publishes a New Year editorial, also broadcast by KCNA, which regularly attracts the attention of the international news media.
Newspapers include:
Several newspaper journalists from North Korea were secretly trained in China
to secretly report on events inside North Korea. November 2007 marked the first publication of the Rimjingang
magazine, which is distributed secretly in North Korea and in neighbouring countries. The magazine covers the economic and political situation in the country. The journalists have also provided footage of public execution
s to South Korean
and Japanese media
.
, Mansudae Television (a cultural station only available in the capital), Korean Educational and Cultural Network, and Kaesong Television (targets South Korea). State television is always off air until its 5pm evening news broadcast, except on Sundays which start at 6am, and in emergency events or live events.
All broadcast media in some way promotes the regime's ideologies and positions, such as juche
, and regularly condemns actions by South Korea
, Japan
, Israel
, the United States
, and other nations. The media in recent years condemns the United Nations
, and its position against the country's nuclear program. In recent years the North Korean media portrays the rest of the world as an "enemy", and claims that every foreign nation is conspiring against the regime.
Due to the economic conditions in the country, radio is the most widely-used medium. In 2006, there were 16 AM, 14 FM and 11 shortwave radio broadcast stations. Radio stations include Pyongyang Radio, Central Radio and Propaganda Radio – the latter of which purports to be broadcasting from South Korea when it actually broadcasts north of the Korean Demilitarized Zone
. According to recent UN data, only 55 of every 1,000 North Koreans have a television in their home. Some foreign broadcast radio stations (see external links) that target North Korea are often jammed
, though this can vary. The authorities designate such media as "enemies of the regime".
South Korean programmes cannot be received in North Korea due to incompatibilities between the television systems and the sets being pretuned, but watching them on VHS VCRs smuggled from China is relatively popular. South Korean soap operas, movies and Western Hollywood movies
according to defectors, are said to be spreading at a "rapid rate" throughout North Korea despite the threat of punishment; inspection teams are regularly bribed or allowed to watch the cassettes themselves.
North Korean broadcasts have been picked up in South Korea, and are monitored by the Unification Ministry
in Seoul
, which handles cross-border relations and media exchanges.
is restricted to internet cafe
s or hotels designated for foreign tourists in Pyongyang
, connected via a satellite link. A few of the government elite with state approval are connected to the internet via a link to China. The general population of North Korea do not have internet access. North Korea itself has a very minimal presence on the internet, with none of its newspapers having their own sites, while KCNA's website is hosted in Japan. Exiled North Korean journalists contribute to online sites and the blogosphere.
Newspapers
North Korean online media aimed at foreign audience
Foreign media targeted at North Korea
Analysis
Circumvention techniques and software
North Korea
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea , , is a country in East Asia, occupying the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Pyongyang. The Korean Demilitarized Zone serves as the buffer zone between North Korea and South Korea...
. The constitution provides for freedom of speech
Freedom of speech
Freedom of speech is the freedom to speak freely without censorship. The term freedom of expression is sometimes used synonymously, but includes any act of seeking, receiving and imparting information or ideas, regardless of the medium used...
and the press
Freedom of the press
Freedom of the press or freedom of the media is the freedom of communication and expression through vehicles including various electronic media and published materials...
; however, the government prohibits the exercise of these rights in practice. In its 2009 report, Reporters Without Borders
Reporters Without Borders
Reporters Without Borders is a France-based international non-governmental organization that advocates freedom of the press. It was founded in 1985, by Robert Ménard, Rony Brauman and the journalist Jean-Claude Guillebaud. Jean-François Julliard has served as Secretary General since 2008...
classified the media environment in North Korea as 174 out of 175, only above that of Eritrea
Eritrea
Eritrea , officially the State of Eritrea, is a country in the Horn of Africa. Eritrea derives it's name from the Greek word Erethria, meaning 'red land'. The capital is Asmara. It is bordered by Sudan in the west, Ethiopia in the south, and Djibouti in the southeast...
.
The state
State media
State media or state-owned media is media for mass communication which is ultimately controlled and/or funded by the state. These news outlets may be the sole media outlet or may exist in competition with privately-controlled media.-Overview:...
news agency, the Korean Central News Agency
Korean Central News Agency
The Korean Central News Agency is the state news agency of North Korea and has existed since December 5, 1946. KCNA is headquartered in the capital city of Pyongyang...
, provides the only source of information for all media outlets in North Korea.
Press freedom
The press is tightly controlled by the stateState media
State media or state-owned media is media for mass communication which is ultimately controlled and/or funded by the state. These news outlets may be the sole media outlet or may exist in competition with privately-controlled media.-Overview:...
, one of the most highly controlled in the world. Article 53 of the North Korean Constitution protects freedom of speech
Freedom of speech
Freedom of speech is the freedom to speak freely without censorship. The term freedom of expression is sometimes used synonymously, but includes any act of seeking, receiving and imparting information or ideas, regardless of the medium used...
and freedom of the press
Freedom of the press
Freedom of the press or freedom of the media is the freedom of communication and expression through vehicles including various electronic media and published materials...
, but only if expressions are supportive of the government
Government of North Korea
The North Korean government is the executive branch of the state, according to the Constitution of North Korea. In practice, the highest decisions are made by the National Defence Commission of North Korea which is led by its Chairman Kim Jong-il....
and Workers' Party of Korea
Workers' Party of Korea
The Workers' Party of Korea is the ruling Communist party of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea , commonly known as North Korea. It is also called the Korean Workers' Party...
. As stated in the Constitution, the role of the press is to:
"...serve the aims of strengthening the dictatorship of the proletariatDictatorship of the proletariatIn Marxist socio-political thought, the dictatorship of the proletariat refers to a socialist state in which the proletariat, or the working class, have control of political power. The term, coined by Joseph Weydemeyer, was adopted by the founders of Marxism, Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, in the...
, bolstering the political unity and ideological conformity of the people and rallying them behind the Party and the Great Leader in the cause of revolution."
Kim Jong-il's book, Guidance for Journalists, advises that "newspapers carry articles in which they unfailingly hold the president in high esteem, adore him and praise him as the great revolutionary leader". Media reports in North Korea are often one-sided and exaggerated, playing "little or no role in gathering and disseminating vital information true to facts" and providing propaganda
Propaganda
Propaganda is a form of communication that is aimed at influencing the attitude of a community toward some cause or position so as to benefit oneself or one's group....
for the regime.
All North Korean journalists are members of the ruling party, the Workers Party of Korea. Journalists who do not follow the strict laws face punishment in the form of hard labour or imprisonment, even for the smallest typing errors. Only news that favours the regime is permitted, whilst news that covers the economic and political problems in the country, or criticisms of the regime from abroad is not allowed. Domestic media and the population itself are not allowed to carry or read stories by foreign media and can be punished for doing so.
Restrictions are also placed on the foreign journalists that are allowed into the country under supervision, though many are not permitted to enter. All the information gathered by newspapers and magazines is disseminated by the main news agency, KCNA
Korean Central News Agency
The Korean Central News Agency is the state news agency of North Korea and has existed since December 5, 1946. KCNA is headquartered in the capital city of Pyongyang...
. No private press exists. The media effectively paints the country in a positive light, describing itself "paradise on earth". With this, it encourages the population to adopt the "socialist lifestyle" — on one occasion an intensive media campaign was launched against men with long hair, claiming it reduces intelligence
Intelligence
Intelligence has been defined in different ways, including the abilities for abstract thought, understanding, communication, reasoning, learning, planning, emotional intelligence and problem solving....
.
Cult of personality
The media upholds the personality cultCult of personality
A cult of personality arises when an individual uses mass media, propaganda, or other methods, to create an idealized and heroic public image, often through unquestioning flattery and praise. Cults of personality are usually associated with dictatorships...
of Kim Jong-Il
Kim Jong-il
Kim Jong-il, also written as Kim Jong Il, birth name Yuri Irsenovich Kim born 16 February 1941 or 16 February 1942 , is the Supreme Leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea...
, regularly reporting on his daily activities, frequently including "prayers" to the former leader Kim Il-Sung
Kim Il-sung
Kim Il-sung was a Korean communist politician who led the Democratic People's Republic of Korea from its founding in 1948 until his death in 1994. He held the posts of Prime Minister from 1948 to 1972 and President from 1972 to his death...
. Previously, media would refer to Kim Jong-Il as the "Dear Leader", though this was dropped in 2004. However, in January 1981, during the first few months of Kim Jong-Il's entry into politics, a survey revealed economic concerns in the media, rather than upholding the cult—60% to 70% of media coverage was focused on the economy in January that year, and between January and September, 54% of editorials in the Nodung Sinmun also referred to economic problems, with only 20% on politics, 10% on reunification and 4% on foreign affairs
Foreign relations of North Korea
The foreign relations of North Korea are often tense and unpredictable. Since the Korean War armistice in 1953, the North Korean government has been largely isolationist, becoming one of the world's most authoritarian societies...
.
Approximately 90% of airtime on international news broadcasts in North Korea is propaganda
Propaganda
Propaganda is a form of communication that is aimed at influencing the attitude of a community toward some cause or position so as to benefit oneself or one's group....
spent describing the publication of works by Kim Jong-Il and showing various study groups in foreign countries, in an effort to allegedly mislead the North Korean public as to the outside world's perceptions of the country. When Kim Jong-Il visited Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
in August 2001, official DPRK media reported Russians as being "awestruck" by the encounter, revering Kim Jong-Il's ability to "stop the rain and make the sun come out
Magic (paranormal)
Magic is the claimed art of manipulating aspects of reality either by supernatural means or through knowledge of occult laws unknown to science. It is in contrast to science, in that science does not accept anything not subject to either direct or indirect observation, and subject to logical...
".
Domestic and international coverage
The media is used to promote contrasting domestic and international agendas. Kim Il-Sung was said to recognise its power to influence North Koreans and confuse the outside world. Often, news is released to the international community and withheld from the domestic North Korean population, and other news is released domestically but not internationally. The media closely follows any foreign country's (particularly South KoreaSouth Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
, Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
and the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
) relevant policies towards the country; any actions deemed unfavourable to the DPRK, its leaders or political system
Juche
Juche or Chuch'e is a Korean word usually translated as "self-reliance." In the Democratic People's Republic of Korea , "Juche" refers specifically to a political thesis of Kim Il-sung, the Juche Idea, that identifies the Korean masses as the masters of the country's development...
are strongly condemned in the official media.
Though some international news coverage is given in DPRK media, much is ignored, is mentioned very briefly, or is announced several days after the event, as was the case with the Ryongchon disaster
Ryongchon disaster
The Ryongchŏn disaster was a train disaster that occurred in the town of Ryongchŏn, North Korea, near the border with the People's Republic of China on April 22, 2004....
in 2004. Reports are also notoriously secretive. The media remained silent on domestic issues, by not reporting on economic reforms introduced by the government such as increasing wages and food prices, rarely mentioning Kim Jong-Il until his first party position in 1980 and the launching of missiles
North Korean missile tests
There have been a number of North Korean missile tests. It has also fired a number of short-range missiles into the Sea of Japan , apparently as political gestures.* 2009 North Korean missile test...
. Restrictions on the dissemination of information do not only apply to the civilian population, but to North Korean officials themselves, depending on ranking.
In contrast, the idea of reunification of the two Koreas
Korean reunification
Korean reunification refers to the hypothetical future reunification of North Korea and South Korea under a single government...
is a pervasive theme in the North Korean media, as is the near constant "threat" of an "imminent attack" by the United States, Japan, Israel, or other nations. In recent years, the media describes in detail satellite launches launched by the country as a sign of the DPRKs "economic prowess." The media rarely reports bad news from the country; however on one rare occasion, the press acknowledged a famine
Famine
A famine is a widespread scarcity of food, caused by several factors including crop failure, overpopulation, or government policies. This phenomenon is usually accompanied or followed by regional malnutrition, starvation, epidemic, and increased mortality. Every continent in the world has...
and food shortages in the 1990s.
It has had a role in supporting anti-government demonstrations in South Korea; in the late 1980s it launched a propaganda campaign urging South Koreans to "fight against the 'government' without concessions and compromise", using false claims to portray the demonstrations as fighting for communism
Communism
Communism is a social, political and economic ideology that aims at the establishment of a classless, moneyless, revolutionary and stateless socialist society structured upon common ownership of the means of production...
, which, rather, were in support of liberal democracy
Liberal democracy
Liberal democracy, also known as constitutional democracy, is a common form of representative democracy. According to the principles of liberal democracy, elections should be free and fair, and the political process should be competitive...
. It continues to support South Korean anti-government groups, quoting relevant societies and unions critical of the government policy and denouncing government "crackdowns", calling for freedom of expression and democracy for South Korean citizens. From January 1 to June 22, 2009, North Korean media was reported to have criticised the South Korean president
President of South Korea
The President of the Republic of Korea is, according to the Constitution of the Republic of Korea, chief executive of the government, commander-in-chief of the armed forces, and the head of state of the Republic of Korea...
1,700 times — an average of 9.9 times daily.
During the Khrushchev
Nikita Khrushchev
Nikita Sergeyevich Khrushchev led the Soviet Union during part of the Cold War. He served as First Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union from 1953 to 1964, and as Chairman of the Council of Ministers, or Premier, from 1958 to 1964...
era of the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
when relations were tense, North Korean media would openly reprint articles critical of the USSR, often written by Chinese
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
officials. However, once relations between the DPRK and Soviet Union improved, the articles would no longer appear. In the following years, both Russian and North Korean media would play down sensitive anniversaries.
Editorial practices
Editorial practices in North Korean media are reflective of the country's foreign policyForeign relations of North Korea
The foreign relations of North Korea are often tense and unpredictable. Since the Korean War armistice in 1953, the North Korean government has been largely isolationist, becoming one of the world's most authoritarian societies...
. South Korean government ministries and laws are referred to in quotations
Scare quotes
Scare quotes are quotation marks placed around a word or phrase to indicate that it does not signify its literal or conventional meaning.- History :Use of the term "scare quotes" appears to have arisen at some point during the first half of the 20th century...
, such as the "Ministry of Defense" or "National Security Law", to imply illegitimacy. Also places like the United States, Israel, and Japan are often referred as the "evil empire".
Newspapers
North Korea has 12 principal newspapers and 20 major periodicals, all published in PyongyangPyongyang
Pyongyang is the capital of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, commonly known as North Korea, and the largest city in the country. Pyongyang is located on the Taedong River and, according to preliminary results from the 2008 population census, has a population of 3,255,388. The city was...
. Foreign newspapers are not sold on the streets of the capital. Every year, North Korean press jointly publishes a New Year editorial, also broadcast by KCNA, which regularly attracts the attention of the international news media.
Newspapers include:
- Rodong SinmunRodong SinmunRodong Sinmun is a North Korean newspaper and the official newspaper of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, published by the Rodong News Agency. It is the most widely read newspaper in the country...
(Labour Daily) - state-controlled - Joson Inmingun (Korean People's Army Daily)
- Minju Choson (Democratic Korea) - government organ
- Rodongja Sinmum (Workers' Newspaper)
- The Pyongyang TimesThe Pyongyang TimesThe Pyongyang Times is a weekly state owned English-language newspaper published in the North Korean capital, Pyongyang.-History and availability:...
(English-language; published in the capital)
Several newspaper journalists from North Korea were secretly trained in China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
to secretly report on events inside North Korea. November 2007 marked the first publication of the Rimjingang
Rimjingang
Rimjingang is a North Korean magazine published by Choi Jin-I in co-operation with Asia Press . The magazine's journalists reportedly operate in secret within North Korea. The magazine aims to bring objective news to the people of North Korea...
magazine, which is distributed secretly in North Korea and in neighbouring countries. The magazine covers the economic and political situation in the country. The journalists have also provided footage of public execution
Public Execution
Public Execution is a Mouse and the Traps retrospective album that has been released in both LP and CD formats. The LP has an unusually large number of tracks , while the CD includes 4 bonus tracks and catalogues almost all of the released music by Mouse and the Traps and their associated bands: ...
s to South Korean
South Korean media
The South Korean media consist of several different types of public communication of news: television, radio, cinema, newspapers, magazines, and Internet-based Web sites.Modern Korean journalism began after the opening of Korea in late 19th century...
and Japanese media
Japanese media
The communications media of Japan include numerous television and radio networks as well as newspapers and magazines in Japan. For the most part, television networks were established based on the capital contribution from existing radio networks at that time...
.
Television and radio
Radio and TV sets in North Korea are supplied pre-tuned to government stations and radios must be checked and registered with the police, though some North Koreans have bought radios tuned to foreign broadcasts. Stations not tuned to government broadcasts are not permitted. There are 4 television stations: Korean Central TVKorean Central Television
Korean Central Television is a state news broadcaster in North Korea, located in the capital city, Pyongyang. KCTV is the only official source of television news for North Koreans. The reach of the programming is limited, as there are only around 1.2 million television sets in the country of over...
, Mansudae Television (a cultural station only available in the capital), Korean Educational and Cultural Network, and Kaesong Television (targets South Korea). State television is always off air until its 5pm evening news broadcast, except on Sundays which start at 6am, and in emergency events or live events.
All broadcast media in some way promotes the regime's ideologies and positions, such as juche
Juche
Juche or Chuch'e is a Korean word usually translated as "self-reliance." In the Democratic People's Republic of Korea , "Juche" refers specifically to a political thesis of Kim Il-sung, the Juche Idea, that identifies the Korean masses as the masters of the country's development...
, and regularly condemns actions by South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
, the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, and other nations. The media in recent years condemns the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
, and its position against the country's nuclear program. In recent years the North Korean media portrays the rest of the world as an "enemy", and claims that every foreign nation is conspiring against the regime.
Due to the economic conditions in the country, radio is the most widely-used medium. In 2006, there were 16 AM, 14 FM and 11 shortwave radio broadcast stations. Radio stations include Pyongyang Radio, Central Radio and Propaganda Radio – the latter of which purports to be broadcasting from South Korea when it actually broadcasts north of the Korean Demilitarized Zone
Korean Demilitarized Zone
The Korean Demilitarized Zone is a strip of land running across the Korean Peninsula that serves as a buffer zone between North and South Korea. The DMZ cuts the Korean Peninsula roughly in half, crossing the 38th parallel on an angle, with the west end of the DMZ lying south of the parallel and...
. According to recent UN data, only 55 of every 1,000 North Koreans have a television in their home. Some foreign broadcast radio stations (see external links) that target North Korea are often jammed
Radio jamming
Radio jamming is the transmission of radio signals that disrupt communications by decreasing the signal to noise ratio. Unintentional jamming occurs when an operator transmits on a busy frequency without first checking whether it is in use, or without being able to hear stations using the frequency...
, though this can vary. The authorities designate such media as "enemies of the regime".
South Korean programmes cannot be received in North Korea due to incompatibilities between the television systems and the sets being pretuned, but watching them on VHS VCRs smuggled from China is relatively popular. South Korean soap operas, movies and Western Hollywood movies
Cinema of the United States
The cinema of the United States, also known as Hollywood, has had a profound effect on cinema across the world since the early 20th century. Its history is sometimes separated into four main periods: the silent film era, classical Hollywood cinema, New Hollywood, and the contemporary period...
according to defectors, are said to be spreading at a "rapid rate" throughout North Korea despite the threat of punishment; inspection teams are regularly bribed or allowed to watch the cassettes themselves.
North Korean broadcasts have been picked up in South Korea, and are monitored by the Unification Ministry
Ministry of Unification
The Ministry of Unification is a branch of the South Korean government that is charged with working toward the reunification of Korea. It was first established in 1969 as the National Unification Board, under the rule of Park Chung-hee...
in Seoul
Seoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
, which handles cross-border relations and media exchanges.
Internet
Internet use in North KoreaInternet in North Korea
North Korea is almost completely isolated from the rest of the world and, while there is a public telephone network, there is no broadband data network. Satellite Internet coverage from BGAN and Thuraya is available, offering download speeds up to 492 kbit/s and upload speeds of 400 kbit/s;...
is restricted to internet cafe
Internet cafe
An Internet café or cybercafé is a place which provides internet access to the public, usually for a fee. These businesses usually provide snacks and drinks, hence the café in the name...
s or hotels designated for foreign tourists in Pyongyang
Pyongyang
Pyongyang is the capital of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, commonly known as North Korea, and the largest city in the country. Pyongyang is located on the Taedong River and, according to preliminary results from the 2008 population census, has a population of 3,255,388. The city was...
, connected via a satellite link. A few of the government elite with state approval are connected to the internet via a link to China. The general population of North Korea do not have internet access. North Korea itself has a very minimal presence on the internet, with none of its newspapers having their own sites, while KCNA's website is hosted in Japan. Exiled North Korean journalists contribute to online sites and the blogosphere.
See also
- Censorship in North KoreaCensorship in North KoreaNorth Korea has a high degree of censorship and no de facto freedom of the press. It is routinely at the bottom of the World Press Freedom Index Rankings published annually by Reporters Without Borders...
- Telecommunications in North Korea
- Radio jamming in KoreaRadio jamming in KoreaRadio jamming on the Korean Peninsula makes the border region one of the world's busiest places for radio signals. Medium wave jamming is dominant in the area including Seoul and the DMZ...
- Media of South Korea
External links
News agency- Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) - (state-run)
- KNS Photo Service
Newspapers
- Rodong Sinmun on KCNA
- The People's Korea (based in Japan)
- Choson Sinbo (based in Japan)
- The Pyongyang Times (requires log in)
North Korean online media aimed at foreign audience
- Uriminzokkiri (Among Our Nation)
- Uriminzokkiri
Foreign media targeted at North Korea
Analysis
- From Dawn to Dusk: A Discourse Analysis of North Korean State Media
- Internet Enemies: North Korea, Reporters Without BordersReporters Without BordersReporters Without Borders is a France-based international non-governmental organization that advocates freedom of the press. It was founded in 1985, by Robert Ménard, Rony Brauman and the journalist Jean-Claude Guillebaud. Jean-François Julliard has served as Secretary General since 2008...
Circumvention techniques and software
- How to Bypass Internet Censorship, also known by the titles: Bypassing Internet Censorship or Circumvention Tools, a FLOSSFlossFloss may refer to:* Dental floss, used to clean teeth* Embroidery thread, machine or hand-spun yarn for embroidery* Fairy floss or candyfloss, alternative names for cotton candy* Rousong, i.e. meat floss-Computing:...
Manual, 10 March 2011, 240 pp.