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Media

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North Korean media and film was influenced primarily by China and Russia during the Soviet era.[1] According to Ma,[1] a study was conducted in 2014 by Simon Choi for Hauri Incorporated which showed that 1,024 people in North Korea had internet access and the North Korean government officials were using Chinese IP addresses. [1] [2] China and Russia have had a large influence in how propaganda has operated in North Korea but have moved on from the isolationist attitude. [1] North Korea however, has retained an isolationist attitude towards the rest of the world. The North Korean government has three main periodicals, The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), The Pyongyang Times, and The North Korea Times. [3] The censorship in North Korea encompasses all the information produced by the media and these publications are no exception. Monitored heavily by government officials, the media is strictly used to reinforce ideals approved by the government. [4] There is no freedom of press in North Korea as all the media is controlled and filtered through governmental censors. [4] There has been some success however with the smuggling of Western films like The Interview, Titanic, and Charlie's Angels are just a few films that have been smuggled across the boarders of North Korea, allowing for access to the North Korean citizens.[5] [6] The Human Rights Foundation launched a campaign called "Flash Drives For Freedom" in order to smuggle flash drives into North Korea containing over 20,000 songs and films to educate the North Korean public about social, political and cultural advancements made by the rest of the world. [7] The North Korean government spreads messages and exploits its citizens through propaganda tactics.[8] One way the North Korean government spreads propaganda is by the implementation of epic poems.[8] The used of epic poems instead of books was due to an economic collapse which lasted from 1989 to 1991.[8] Other tactics of control that government officials adopt is to take outside information of other countries and manipulate the information in a way that further promote the ruling leader Kim Jong Un. [9] Propaganda is spread by officials to emphasis how thankful citizens should be to live in North Korea.[9] The North Korean media lie about other countries to promote their way of life, “Media has also started to use a lot of extraterritorial information, so the people get the impression that they have access to it.” [10] None of which, is truly factual or accurate of the world beyond the DMZ.[10] North Korean officials do not believe in the propaganda being spread. Regardless, they must give the appearance of believing in the North Korean government’s use of media and propaganda to remain loyal and not risk persecution.[10]

  1. ^ a b c d Ma,V. Harvard International Review. Winter2016, Vol. 37 Issue 2, pg46-50. 5p.
  2. ^ Park, J., & Pearson, J. (2017, May 21). Exclusive - North Korea's Unit 180, the cyber warfare cell that worries the West.
  3. ^ http://www.northkoreatimes.com/
  4. ^ a b Journalists, C. T. (2017, April 25). North Korean censorship.
  5. ^ Harvard International Review. Winter2016, Vol. 37 Issue 2, pg46-50. 5p.
  6. ^ Crocker, L. (2014, December 22). North Korea's Secret Movie Bootleggers: How Western Films Make It Into the Hermit Kingdom.
  7. ^ Hands, J. (2016, March 22). Flashdrives for freedom? 20,000 USBs to be smuggled into North Korea
  8. ^ a b c The Economist. (2014, May 04). Here's How North Korea Created A Propaganda Empire 
  9. ^ a b MARTINEZ, R. (2015, January 20). Washington State University: Propaganda and media control in North Korea.
  10. ^ a b c Tomes, Jan. “In North Korea, journalism emerges from lies | Asia | DW | 07.08.2017.” DW.COM, 8 July 2017, www.dw.com/en/in-north-korea-journalism-emerges-from-lies/a-39991146.