The media of North Korea are among the most strictly controlled in the world. As a result, information is tightly controlled going 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, unless it is in praise of the country and its government and leader. In its 2009 report, Reporters Without Borders classified the media environment in North Korea as 174 out of 175, only above that of Eritrea.[1]
The state news agency, the Korean Central News Agency, provides the only source of information for all media outlets in North Korea.[2]
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The press is tightly controlled by the state, 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.[3] As stated in the Constitution, the role of the press is to:
"...serve the aims of strengthening the dictatorship of the proletariat, 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."[4]
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".[5] 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.[6]
All North Korean journalists are members of the ruling party, the Workers Party of Korea.[7] Journalists who do not follow the strict laws face punishment in the form of hard labour or imprisonment, even for the smallest typing errors.[1][7] 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.[8] Domestic media and the population itself are not allowed to carry or read stories by foreign media and can be punished for doing so.[7]
Restrictions are also placed on the foreign journalists that are allowed into the country under supervision, though many are not permitted to enter.[7] All the information gathered by newspapers and magazines is disseminated by the main news agency, KCNA. No private press exists.[8] The media effectively paints the country in a positive light, describing itself "paradise on earth".[9] 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.[10]
The media upholds the personality cult 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.[11] 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.[12]
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.[13] 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".[14]
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.[14] 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.[15] The media closely follows any foreign country's (particularly South Korea, 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.[16]
Though some international news coverage is given in DPRK media, much is ignored,[17] is mentioned very briefly,[18] or is announced several days after the event, as was the case with the Ryongchon disaster in 2004.[19][20] 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,[21] rarely mentioning Kim Jong-Il until his first party position in 1980[22] and the launching of missiles.[23] Restrictions on the dissemination of information do not only apply to the civilian population, but to North Korean officials themselves, depending on ranking.[24]
In contrast, the idea of reunification of the two Koreas is a pervasive theme in the North Korean media,[25] as is the near constant "threat" of an "imminent attack" by the United States, Japan, Israel, or other nations.[26] In recent years, the media describes in detail satellite launches launched by the country as a sign of the DPRKs "economic prowess."[26] 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.[27]
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.[28] It continues to support South Korean anti-government groups, quoting relevant societies and unions critical of the government policy[29] and denouncing government "crackdowns", calling for freedom of expression and democracy for South Korean citizens.[30] 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.[31]
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.[32] However, once relations between the DPRK and Soviet Union improved, the articles would no longer appear.[33] In the following years, both Russian and North Korean media would play down sensitive anniversaries.[34]
Editorial practices in North Korean media are reflective of the country's foreign policy. 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".
North Korea has 12 principal newspapers and 20 major periodicals, all published in Pyongyang.[35] Foreign newspapers are not sold on the streets of the capital.[36] 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.[37][38][39][40]
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 executions to South Korean and Japanese media.[1]
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.[8] Stations not tuned to government broadcasts are not permitted. There are four major television stations: Korean Central TV, Mansudae Television (a cultural station only available in the capital), Korean Educational and Cultural Network, and Kaesong Television (targets South Korea).[41] State television is always off air until its 5:00 pm evening news broadcast, except on Sundays which start at 6:00 am, and in emergency events or live events.[42]
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, including officials in China and Russia, are conspiring against the regime.
Due to the economic conditions in the country and the nearly non-existent programs, 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.[43] According to recent UN data, only 55 of every 1,000 North Koreans have a television set 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 foreign media as "enemies of the regime".[8]
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 tapes on VCRs smuggled from China is relatively popular.[8] 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.[44][45]
North Korean broadcasts have been picked up in South Korea,[46] and are monitored by the Unification Ministry in Seoul, which handles cross-border relations and media exchanges.[47]
Defectors are also streaming North Korean television broadcasts on the Internet. Korean Central TV stream; best viewed in VLC
Internet use in North Korea is restricted to internet cafes 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.[48] 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.[1]
This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the Library of Congress Country Studies.
This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the CIA World Factbook.
News agency
Newspapers
North Korean online media aimed at foreign audience
Foreign media targeted at North Korea
Analysis
Circumvention techniques and software
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