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Censorship in North Korea

North Korea ranks among some of the most extreme censorship in the world, with the government able to take strict control over communications. North Korea sits at the bottom of Reporters Without Borders' 2022 Press Freedom Index,[1] ranking 180 out of the 180 countries investigated.

All media outlets are owned and controlled by the North Korean government. As such, all media in North Korea get their news from the Korean Central News Agency. The media dedicate a large portion of their resources toward political propaganda and promoting the personality cult of the Kim family (Kim Il Sung, Kim Jong Il,[2][failed verification] and Kim Jong Un. The government of Kim Jong Un still has absolute authority over and control of the press and information and has been repeatedly ranked one of the top 5 countries in the world with the least amount of media freedom.[3]

Impact of censorship edit

Censorship is a form of media monopoly, where the government oversees all media content in order to maintain obedience. North Korea utilizes a three-tiered approach to control its citizens at the ideological, physical, and institutional level.[4] This applies not only to North Korean residents but also to visitors.[5]

While this media censorship is harmful for many due to its harsh punishments for those who obtain unapproved content, it is most destructive to children. Since children are more impressionable, they are easier to manipulate, and North Korea takes advantage of this by pushing its own agenda. Kim Jong Un only prioritizes what he deems to be pertinent information, forcing adolescents to think the same as their leader, without any hope for change.[6]

As for adults, the UN Commission of Inquiry (COI) acknowledges multiple violations of human rights in North Korea that are connected to censorship and governmental control, specifically violations of freedom of thought and expression.[7]

There are even some extremes, documented in a report by the U.S. Department of State that include forced labor, rape, forced abortions, and many other horrific human rights violations in the country.[8] One official documented in the report is Ri Thae-chol, who is a first vice minister of the Ministry of People's Security. The MPS oversees and operates strict labor camps that are known for their abuse and torture of its citizens.

Journalists' safety is also impacted by censorship. According to Reporters Without Borders the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) restricts and controls the production and distribution of information while also prohibiting independent journalism. Over the years journalists in North Korea have faced many safety hazards when working in the field. They have been arrested, deported, sent to forced labor camps, and even killed.[9]

History edit

Kim Il Sung (Leader from 1948–1994) edit

 
Mural of Kim Il-sung outside Songdowon Hotel, Wonsan

Kim Il Sung was born an ordinary man named Kim Sung-ju on April 15, 1912, at the peak of European and Japanese imperialism. Kim Il Sung's tenure was marked by human rights abuses, such as prison camps and harsh censorship.[10] Kim Il Sung's policies are still in effect as of July 2023. As of 2023, all local North Korean media outlets are run by the state. Radios and television sets are modified to receive only approved channels.[11]

North Korea's biggest economic, political, and military aid under Kim Il Sung was the Soviet Union. Joseph Stalin reportedly handpicked Kim Il Sung, who was a fluent Russian speaker, to lead North Korea in 1948.[12] After the foundation of the country, Kim Il Sung launched the Concentrated Guidance Campaign. This was a census to determine the political opinions of North Koreans. Soviet influence in North Korea was endorsed under Kim Il Sung. The degree of censorship seen in North Korea today began with the nationalization of major industries, labor reforms, and the seizure of privately owned land. North Korea maintains a cult of personality around Kim Il Sung as of 2017.[13]

1946–present: The Korean Central News Agency edit

 
Propaganda in North Korea

The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) is the state news agency of North Korea. The KCNA was established on December 5, 1946. The agency publishes the views of the North Korean government for foreign news outlets to consume and cite. According to its website, the KCNA "speaks for the Workers' Party of Korea and the [North Korean] government". It is the primary method by which the North Korean government publishes its views outside of the country.[14]

The KCNA is responsible for all news in North Korea and also distributes photos. Their content is available in Korean, English, Spanish, and Japanese. From January 1, 2011, the site also began offering video. The KCNA often broadcasts North Korean propaganda. It has also reported alleged achievements of North Korea, such as its alleged space program and its standard of living as compared to the United States. These claims have been proven false.[citation needed] The KCNA frequently publishes articles concerning "imperialism" from the United States and South Korea.[15] The KCNA acts as the nation's public relations and multimedia firm, with news that is not dissimilar to propaganda. South Korea's Ministry of Defence maintains a group of readers who try to interpret the significance of the news agency's output. Some themes the KCNA consistently covers include denouncing the actions of the United States and Japan as well as promoting the celebrity and personality of Kim Jong Un and Kim Jong-Il. Their 2,000 employees are under strict control to make sure they report in favor of their country.

Jang Song-thaek was considered the second most powerful figure in North Korea next to Kim Jong Un before he was executed because he was seen as a “counter-revolutionary” to the government. After his death in 2013, it is reported that 35,000 articles of Korean-language original reporting were deleted by the KCNA and his name was taken off every article in one of the outlet's biggest censorship crackdowns.[16][failed verification]

Kim Jong Il (Leader from 1994–2011) edit

Kim Jong Il was made commander-in-chief and head of the military affairs commission by his father Kim Il Sung in the spring of 1994. Later that year in July, Kim Il Sung died. Kim Jong Il became the next member of the Kim dynasty to govern North Korea.[17] Kim Jong Il upheld his father's authoritarian regime and strict censorship. He was known for using military propaganda to distract North Korean citizens from their lack of freedoms and access to outside information. Despite only giving citizens access to hyper-militarized government propaganda, many cell phones and DVDs were obtained illegally under Kim Jong Il.[18]

In 1983, Kim Jong Il's book The Great Teacher of Journalists was translated into English. In this book, Kim Jong Il guides journalists to take the best pictures of their leader, study their leader's works, and instill loyalty to their leader in others. Kim Jong Il includes stories of his remarkable feats in this book, detailing a time when he saved a reporter from death and when he edited a writer's political essay to perfection.[19]

2004–2008: Cell phone ban edit

The North Korean government has implemented policies to prevent outside sources of information from reaching the people of North Korea. Starting in the 1990s when famine overtook the country, traders used cell phones as a means to illegally bring food and goods across the border.[20]

In December 2008 Orascom Telecom, an Egyptian company introduced North Korea to Koryolink, a 3G network. Internet access is permitted only for foreign travelers or the elite.[21] By 2015, three million North Koreans had subscribed to Koryolink. Users of Koryolink must apply for permission to subscribe and are “subject to controls and surveillance by at least eight ministries and organizations between the party, state and army.” The network does not allow any access to international calls. Users sometimes will receive propaganda messages.[22]

In 2013, foreigners were granted 3G mobile phone Internet access by monthly data plan; the service could be implemented via USB modem or SIM Card.[21] Recently, with more government awareness of alternative access to external information, increased security measures to eliminate these resources have been enacted.[23] This includes higher border security where illicit cell phones gain access to China's mobile networks.[20]

These phones could be vehicles for releasing detailed news of harsh ruling within the country which is prohibited. Beyond punishment for those using phones within the country, a danger exists for escapees spreading knowledge of the country's extreme laws. Text messages and cell phone photographs are sent to external journalists and activists in South Korea to spread knowledge of the conditions. Some North Koreans act as journalists and sources by sending information and sharing stories. Prominent news accounts surrounding Kim Jong Un's ankle surgery and his wife, Ri Sol-ju's 2012 pregnancy were released from these insiders.[20]

As social media and news applications via smartphones become the common thread of news outlets, North Korea pushes further curtailment. A tightly controlled cyberspace exists within the country where a small number of upper-class citizens have access to an intranet, called Kwangmyong.[24] In contrast to the otherwise global World Wide Web, this independent resource provides communication between industry, universities, and government. It is used to spread information through chats and emails which are both monitored and filtered by the government, allowing only a select group of researchers, propagandists, and media workers to access state media and items which have been removed from the public's Internet.

Kim Jong Un (Leader from 2011–present) edit

 
Kim Jong-un in April 2019

Kim Jong Un continues his predecessors' rule and worked to consolidate power since becoming the supreme leader of North Korea on December 28, 2011.[25] He ordered the execution of his uncle, Jang Song-thaek, and allegedly commanded the assassination of his older half-brother, Kim Jong-nam.[26]

Kim Jong Un keeps North Korea under his surveillance through extreme censorship. As of April 2020, the regime has a press freedom score from the Press Freedom Index rankings (made by Reporters Without Borders) of 83.4, with 100 being the worst score, and is ranked last in global rankings of 180 countries.[27] North Korean journalists must belong to the ruling Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) and adjust their reportings to positively reflect Kim Jong Un's leadership. Foreign media are not welcomed and are often used as scapegoats by North Korean media.[28] Failure to follow strict guidelines as set forth by the WPK can lead to imprisonment, forced labor, or death.[29]

Human rights violations in North Korea raise global concern. Kim Jong Un's regime is notorious for torture, mysterious disappearances, and sexual violence. Each layer of the government is structured to expel potential political threats and disseminate the ideology of Kim Jong Un, and those who attempt to circumvent censorship face steep consequences.[29]

Radio and television censorship edit

Radio or television sets that can be bought in North Korea are preset to receive only the government frequencies and sealed with a label to prevent tampering with the equipment. It is a serious criminal offence to manipulate the sets and receive radio or television broadcasts from outside North Korea. In a party campaign in 2003, the head of each party cell in neighborhoods and villages received instructions to verify the seals on all radio sets.[30]

According to the Daily NK, it is possible to broadcast news for North Korea through short-wave radio. Possessing a short-wave radio is against the law in North Korea, but the radios are allegedly confiscated and resold by corrupted agents of the secret police.[31]

High-ranking officials have access to cellphones and the internet while others are limited to the programed government stations that broadcast propaganda. Every television is monitored and inspected throughout each year to ensure there are no outside stations being transmitted illegally. Additionally, songs heard on both televisions and radios are supervised to be based on praising communism and the party leaders, with the superstition that members of the Kim family are writing them.[4]

"A Quiet Opening: North Koreans in a Changing Media Environment," a study commissioned by the U.S. State Department and conducted by InterMedia and released May 10, 2012, found that despite strict regulations, North Koreans, particularly the elites, have increased access to news and other media outside the state-controlled media authorized by the government. While access to the internet is controlled, radio and DVDs are common media accessed, and in border areas, television.[32][33] Up to one in two urban households own a Notel (also called Notetel), a portable media player made in China which has been popular in North Korea since about 2005 and was legalized in 2014 and has been credited with facilitating the extension of the "Korean Wave" (Hallyu, the increase of the popularity of South Korean pop culture internationally) into North Korea.[34][35][36]

As of 2011, USB flash drives were selling well in North Korea, primarily used for watching South Korean dramas and films on personal computers.[37]

Journalism edit

North Korea is ranked second to the bottom of the Press Freedom Index rankings published annually by Reporters Without Borders. From 2002 through 2006, the country was listed as the worst in the world, and from 2007 to 2016, it was listed second to last (behind Eritrea) of some 180 countries.[38][39][40][41] In 2017 and 2018, North Korea was ranked the worst again.[42] In 2019, it was rated second to last, above Turkmenistan.[43] In 2020, it was once again ranked last.[27]

To become a journalist in North Korea, one has to graduate from college. After an ideology review and a strict background check, the student is drafted by the college dean and the managers. The drafted journalist will normally go through a probation period of 4 to 5 years and is then stationed after an assessment.

In North Korea, journalism as a job is to guard, defend, and advocate for both the party and party leaders. Since the role is defined as being a political activist and a fighter who can mobilize a crowd, a journalist in North Korea should be deemed a supporter of Kim Il Sung and a fervent political activist, with a war correspondent spirit and political qualification. Journalists in North Korea are reeducated continuously.

The organization that takes charge of the reeducation of journalists in North Korea is the 'Chosen Reporter Alliance'. It is the strongest and the most systematized organization among the reporters and journalists' political idea education organizations. The organization trains journalists and reporters on philosophy, economics, world history, world literature, and foreign languages.

Arguing about the contradictions in the system of North Korea itself is considered treason and is treated as a major violation in North Korean society. Over 70 percent of reports of Korean Central Broadcasting are allotted for Kim's idolization and propaganda system. The rest of the reports are spent on blaming and predicting the collapse of the United States, Japan, and South Korea.

The reporters in North Korea spend their time writing articles that reflect North Korea in a positive light. Kim Jong Il used to punish the people who wrote from a different point of view, saying "Words describe one's ideas."[44]

After re-education, a journalist who works for over 15 years and has made a major contribution is titled a 'distinguished journalist'.[45]

Internet policies edit

In 2006, Julien Pain, head of the Internet Desk at Reporters Without Borders, described North Korea as the world's worst Internet black hole,[46] in its list of the top 13 Internet enemies.[47]

Internet access is not generally available in North Korea. Only some high-level officials are allowed to access the global internet.[48] In most universities, a small number of strictly monitored computers are provided. Other citizens may get access only to the country's national intranet, called Kwangmyong.[49] Content on Kwangmyong is curated by Korea Computer Center.[50] Foreigners can access the internet using the 3G phone network.[51][52] However, the IT industry has been growing and Internet access is starting to increase within North Korea.[53] With few exceptions, Kwangmyong is completely separate from the global internet as a means for North Korea to use private state-controlled resources which is completely regulated by the regime.[54] This intranet is difficult for foreign adversaries to access, and therefore allows the country to maintain its own private internet.

The North Korean Ullim, an Android-based tablet computer available since 2014, has a high level of inbuilt surveillance and controls. The tablet takes screenshots of apps opened by the user and saves browsing history.[55] The tablet also only allows access to a limited number of approved applications, shares watermarking data to track the distribution of content between people and only allows users to access content created on the tablet or from the tablet.[56] Content sent from other users or third party platforms cannot be accessed.

As of 2022, ordinary citizens with mobile devices do not have access to the global internet. Instead, these individuals are only able to access Kwangmyong, that is operated by the country. In terms of global internet access, this privilege is only granted to a small number of North Korean elites.[57] Internet access is restricted to military and government business.[58]

See also edit

References edit

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  2. ^ . Naenara. Archived from the original on September 30, 2007. Retrieved January 27, 2006.
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  4. ^ a b "Censorship: Background and Ideology — Censorship and Government Regulation of Music". wordpress.clarku.edu. Retrieved 2022-10-20.
  5. ^ reserved, VTNV Solutions Limited https://www le-vpn com Sitemap © 2022 Le VPN All rights. "Internet Censorship in North Korea". Le VPN. Retrieved 2022-10-20.
  6. ^ "North Korean Censorship of Literature and How it Affects Children | YA Literary Globetrotters". u.osu.edu. Retrieved 2022-10-20.
  7. ^ King, Robert R. (15 May 2019). "North Koreans Want External Information, But Kim Jong-Un Seeks to Limit Access". www.csis.org. Retrieved 2022-10-20.
  8. ^ "Report on Serious Human Rights Abuses or Censorship in North Korea". United States Department of State. Retrieved 2022-10-21.
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  14. ^ Harlan, Chico. "In North Korea, the State-Run News Agency Is the Weapon of Choice". Washington Post. Retrieved 5 October 2017.
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  17. ^ Linton, Stephen (1996). "North Korea under the Son". The Washington Quarterly. 19 (2): 3–17. doi:10.1080/01636609609550194.
  18. ^ Lee, Kristine (2011). "No Revolution Here". Harvard International Review. 33 (2): 8–9. Retrieved 3 October 2017.
  19. ^ Barrett, Liz Cox (2013). "Elements of Gangnam style". Columbia Journalism Review. 51 (5): 48. Retrieved 3 October 2017.
  20. ^ a b c Sang-hun, Choe (26 March 2016). "North Koreans Rely on Smuggled Cellphones to Connect to the Outside World". The New York Times. Retrieved 3 October 2017.
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  25. ^ "North Korea Profile-Leaders". BBC News.
  26. ^ Goldman, Russell (15 March 2017). "DNA Confirms Assassination Victim Was Half Brother of Kim Jong-un, Malaysia Says". The New York Times.
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  28. ^ Sedaghat, Nouran. . Canadian Journalists for Free Expression. Archived from the original on 2021-03-17. Retrieved 2017-10-25.
  29. ^ a b "Report on Human Rights Abuses or Censorship in North Korea". U.S. Department of State. U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor.
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  33. ^ Nat Kretchun; Jane Kim (May 10, 2012). (PDF). InterMedia. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 12, 2012. Retrieved May 10, 2012. The primary focus of the study was on the ability of North Koreans to access outside information from foreign sources through a variety of media, communication technologies, and personal sources. The relationship between information exposure on North Koreans' perceptions of the outside world and their own country was also analyzed (11 years ago).
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  44. ^ "North Korea controls over foreign countries' press" (in Korean). June 20, 2007.
  45. ^ . Seunguk Baek. Archived from the original on April 19, 2015. Retrieved December 20, 2014.
  46. ^ "The Internet Black Hole That Is North Korea". The New York Times. October 23, 2006.
  47. ^ . Reporters Without Borders. Archived from the original on January 2, 2008. Retrieved January 9, 2008.
  48. ^ . Freedom House. Archived from the original on 7 July 2014. Retrieved 15 July 2014.
  49. ^ Eric Talmadge (23 February 2014). "North Korea: Where the Internet has just 5,500 sites". Toronto Star. Associated Press. Retrieved 15 July 2014.
  50. ^ Sedaghat, Nouran. . Archived from the original on May 9, 2015.
  51. ^ "North Korea to offer mobile internet access". BBC. 22 February 2013. Retrieved 15 July 2014.
  52. ^ Caitlin Dewey (26 February 2013). "Instagrams from within North Korea lift the veil, but only slightly". Washington Post. Retrieved 15 July 2014.
  53. ^ Lee, Jean H. (2011-07-25). "North Korea's 'Digital Revolution' Under Way". Associated Press. Retrieved 2011-08-08.
  54. ^ "North Korea 2022: Intelligence Assessment". Analyst1. Retrieved 2022-10-20.
  55. ^ Williams, Martyn (3 March 2017). "All That Glitters Is Not Gold: A Closer Look at North Korea's Ullim Tablet". 38 North. U.S.-Korea Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies. Retrieved 6 March 2017.
  56. ^ WebMechanix (2017-03-03). "All That Glitters Is Not Gold: A Closer Look at North Korea's Ullim Tablet - 38 North: Informed Analysis of North Korea". 38 North. Retrieved 2022-10-20.
  57. ^ "North Korea: Freedom in the World 2022 Country Report". Freedom House. Retrieved 2022-10-20.
  58. ^ "North Korea 2022: Intelligence Assessment". Analyst1. Retrieved 2022-10-20.

External links edit

  • Free North Korea Radio

censorship, north, korea, north, korea, ranks, among, some, most, extreme, censorship, world, with, government, able, take, strict, control, over, communications, north, korea, sits, bottom, reporters, without, borders, 2022, press, freedom, index, ranking, co. North Korea ranks among some of the most extreme censorship in the world with the government able to take strict control over communications North Korea sits at the bottom of Reporters Without Borders 2022 Press Freedom Index 1 ranking 180 out of the 180 countries investigated All media outlets are owned and controlled by the North Korean government As such all media in North Korea get their news from the Korean Central News Agency The media dedicate a large portion of their resources toward political propaganda and promoting the personality cult of the Kim family Kim Il Sung Kim Jong Il 2 failed verification and Kim Jong Un The government of Kim Jong Un still has absolute authority over and control of the press and information and has been repeatedly ranked one of the top 5 countries in the world with the least amount of media freedom 3 Contents 1 Impact of censorship 2 History 2 1 Kim Il Sung Leader from 1948 1994 2 1 1 1946 present The Korean Central News Agency 2 2 Kim Jong Il Leader from 1994 2011 2 2 1 2004 2008 Cell phone ban 2 3 Kim Jong Un Leader from 2011 present 3 Radio and television censorship 4 Journalism 5 Internet policies 6 See also 7 References 8 External linksImpact of censorship editCensorship is a form of media monopoly where the government oversees all media content in order to maintain obedience North Korea utilizes a three tiered approach to control its citizens at the ideological physical and institutional level 4 This applies not only to North Korean residents but also to visitors 5 While this media censorship is harmful for many due to its harsh punishments for those who obtain unapproved content it is most destructive to children Since children are more impressionable they are easier to manipulate and North Korea takes advantage of this by pushing its own agenda Kim Jong Un only prioritizes what he deems to be pertinent information forcing adolescents to think the same as their leader without any hope for change 6 As for adults the UN Commission of Inquiry COI acknowledges multiple violations of human rights in North Korea that are connected to censorship and governmental control specifically violations of freedom of thought and expression 7 There are even some extremes documented in a report by the U S Department of State that include forced labor rape forced abortions and many other horrific human rights violations in the country 8 One official documented in the report is Ri Thae chol who is a first vice minister of the Ministry of People s Security The MPS oversees and operates strict labor camps that are known for their abuse and torture of its citizens Journalists safety is also impacted by censorship According to Reporters Without Borders the Korean Central News Agency KCNA restricts and controls the production and distribution of information while also prohibiting independent journalism Over the years journalists in North Korea have faced many safety hazards when working in the field They have been arrested deported sent to forced labor camps and even killed 9 History editKim Il Sung Leader from 1948 1994 edit See also Cult of personality for Kim Il Sung nbsp Mural of Kim Il sung outside Songdowon Hotel WonsanKim Il Sung was born an ordinary man named Kim Sung ju on April 15 1912 at the peak of European and Japanese imperialism Kim Il Sung s tenure was marked by human rights abuses such as prison camps and harsh censorship 10 Kim Il Sung s policies are still in effect as of July 2023 As of 2023 all local North Korean media outlets are run by the state Radios and television sets are modified to receive only approved channels 11 North Korea s biggest economic political and military aid under Kim Il Sung was the Soviet Union Joseph Stalin reportedly handpicked Kim Il Sung who was a fluent Russian speaker to lead North Korea in 1948 12 After the foundation of the country Kim Il Sung launched the Concentrated Guidance Campaign This was a census to determine the political opinions of North Koreans Soviet influence in North Korea was endorsed under Kim Il Sung The degree of censorship seen in North Korea today began with the nationalization of major industries labor reforms and the seizure of privately owned land North Korea maintains a cult of personality around Kim Il Sung as of 2017 13 1946 present The Korean Central News Agency edit nbsp Propaganda in North KoreaThe Korean Central News Agency KCNA is the state news agency of North Korea The KCNA was established on December 5 1946 The agency publishes the views of the North Korean government for foreign news outlets to consume and cite According to its website the KCNA speaks for the Workers Party of Korea and the North Korean government It is the primary method by which the North Korean government publishes its views outside of the country 14 The KCNA is responsible for all news in North Korea and also distributes photos Their content is available in Korean English Spanish and Japanese From January 1 2011 the site also began offering video The KCNA often broadcasts North Korean propaganda It has also reported alleged achievements of North Korea such as its alleged space program and its standard of living as compared to the United States These claims have been proven false citation needed The KCNA frequently publishes articles concerning imperialism from the United States and South Korea 15 The KCNA acts as the nation s public relations and multimedia firm with news that is not dissimilar to propaganda South Korea s Ministry of Defence maintains a group of readers who try to interpret the significance of the news agency s output Some themes the KCNA consistently covers include denouncing the actions of the United States and Japan as well as promoting the celebrity and personality of Kim Jong Un and Kim Jong Il Their 2 000 employees are under strict control to make sure they report in favor of their country Jang Song thaek was considered the second most powerful figure in North Korea next to Kim Jong Un before he was executed because he was seen as a counter revolutionary to the government After his death in 2013 it is reported that 35 000 articles of Korean language original reporting were deleted by the KCNA and his name was taken off every article in one of the outlet s biggest censorship crackdowns 16 failed verification Kim Jong Il Leader from 1994 2011 edit See also Cult of personality for Kim Jong Il Kim Jong Il was made commander in chief and head of the military affairs commission by his father Kim Il Sung in the spring of 1994 Later that year in July Kim Il Sung died Kim Jong Il became the next member of the Kim dynasty to govern North Korea 17 Kim Jong Il upheld his father s authoritarian regime and strict censorship He was known for using military propaganda to distract North Korean citizens from their lack of freedoms and access to outside information Despite only giving citizens access to hyper militarized government propaganda many cell phones and DVDs were obtained illegally under Kim Jong Il 18 In 1983 Kim Jong Il s book The Great Teacher of Journalists was translated into English In this book Kim Jong Il guides journalists to take the best pictures of their leader study their leader s works and instill loyalty to their leader in others Kim Jong Il includes stories of his remarkable feats in this book detailing a time when he saved a reporter from death and when he edited a writer s political essay to perfection 19 2004 2008 Cell phone ban edit The North Korean government has implemented policies to prevent outside sources of information from reaching the people of North Korea Starting in the 1990s when famine overtook the country traders used cell phones as a means to illegally bring food and goods across the border 20 In December 2008 Orascom Telecom an Egyptian company introduced North Korea to Koryolink a 3G network Internet access is permitted only for foreign travelers or the elite 21 By 2015 three million North Koreans had subscribed to Koryolink Users of Koryolink must apply for permission to subscribe and are subject to controls and surveillance by at least eight ministries and organizations between the party state and army The network does not allow any access to international calls Users sometimes will receive propaganda messages 22 In 2013 foreigners were granted 3G mobile phone Internet access by monthly data plan the service could be implemented via USB modem or SIM Card 21 Recently with more government awareness of alternative access to external information increased security measures to eliminate these resources have been enacted 23 This includes higher border security where illicit cell phones gain access to China s mobile networks 20 These phones could be vehicles for releasing detailed news of harsh ruling within the country which is prohibited Beyond punishment for those using phones within the country a danger exists for escapees spreading knowledge of the country s extreme laws Text messages and cell phone photographs are sent to external journalists and activists in South Korea to spread knowledge of the conditions Some North Koreans act as journalists and sources by sending information and sharing stories Prominent news accounts surrounding Kim Jong Un s ankle surgery and his wife Ri Sol ju s 2012 pregnancy were released from these insiders 20 As social media and news applications via smartphones become the common thread of news outlets North Korea pushes further curtailment A tightly controlled cyberspace exists within the country where a small number of upper class citizens have access to an intranet called Kwangmyong 24 In contrast to the otherwise global World Wide Web this independent resource provides communication between industry universities and government It is used to spread information through chats and emails which are both monitored and filtered by the government allowing only a select group of researchers propagandists and media workers to access state media and items which have been removed from the public s Internet Kim Jong Un Leader from 2011 present edit See also Cult of personality for Kim Jong Un nbsp Kim Jong un in April 2019Kim Jong Un continues his predecessors rule and worked to consolidate power since becoming the supreme leader of North Korea on December 28 2011 25 He ordered the execution of his uncle Jang Song thaek and allegedly commanded the assassination of his older half brother Kim Jong nam 26 Kim Jong Un keeps North Korea under his surveillance through extreme censorship As of April 2020 the regime has a press freedom score from the Press Freedom Index rankings made by Reporters Without Borders of 83 4 with 100 being the worst score and is ranked last in global rankings of 180 countries 27 North Korean journalists must belong to the ruling Workers Party of Korea WPK and adjust their reportings to positively reflect Kim Jong Un s leadership Foreign media are not welcomed and are often used as scapegoats by North Korean media 28 Failure to follow strict guidelines as set forth by the WPK can lead to imprisonment forced labor or death 29 Human rights violations in North Korea raise global concern Kim Jong Un s regime is notorious for torture mysterious disappearances and sexual violence Each layer of the government is structured to expel potential political threats and disseminate the ideology of Kim Jong Un and those who attempt to circumvent censorship face steep consequences 29 Radio and television censorship editFurther information Radio jamming in Korea Radio or television sets that can be bought in North Korea are preset to receive only the government frequencies and sealed with a label to prevent tampering with the equipment It is a serious criminal offence to manipulate the sets and receive radio or television broadcasts from outside North Korea In a party campaign in 2003 the head of each party cell in neighborhoods and villages received instructions to verify the seals on all radio sets 30 According to the Daily NK it is possible to broadcast news for North Korea through short wave radio Possessing a short wave radio is against the law in North Korea but the radios are allegedly confiscated and resold by corrupted agents of the secret police 31 High ranking officials have access to cellphones and the internet while others are limited to the programed government stations that broadcast propaganda Every television is monitored and inspected throughout each year to ensure there are no outside stations being transmitted illegally Additionally songs heard on both televisions and radios are supervised to be based on praising communism and the party leaders with the superstition that members of the Kim family are writing them 4 A Quiet Opening North Koreans in a Changing Media Environment a study commissioned by the U S State Department and conducted by InterMedia and released May 10 2012 found that despite strict regulations North Koreans particularly the elites have increased access to news and other media outside the state controlled media authorized by the government While access to the internet is controlled radio and DVDs are common media accessed and in border areas television 32 33 Up to one in two urban households own a Notel also called Notetel a portable media player made in China which has been popular in North Korea since about 2005 and was legalized in 2014 and has been credited with facilitating the extension of the Korean Wave Hallyu the increase of the popularity of South Korean pop culture internationally into North Korea 34 35 36 As of 2011 USB flash drives were selling well in North Korea primarily used for watching South Korean dramas and films on personal computers 37 Journalism editNorth Korea is ranked second to the bottom of the Press Freedom Index rankings published annually by Reporters Without Borders From 2002 through 2006 the country was listed as the worst in the world and from 2007 to 2016 it was listed second to last behind Eritrea of some 180 countries 38 39 40 41 In 2017 and 2018 North Korea was ranked the worst again 42 In 2019 it was rated second to last above Turkmenistan 43 In 2020 it was once again ranked last 27 To become a journalist in North Korea one has to graduate from college After an ideology review and a strict background check the student is drafted by the college dean and the managers The drafted journalist will normally go through a probation period of 4 to 5 years and is then stationed after an assessment In North Korea journalism as a job is to guard defend and advocate for both the party and party leaders Since the role is defined as being a political activist and a fighter who can mobilize a crowd a journalist in North Korea should be deemed a supporter of Kim Il Sung and a fervent political activist with a war correspondent spirit and political qualification Journalists in North Korea are reeducated continuously The organization that takes charge of the reeducation of journalists in North Korea is the Chosen Reporter Alliance It is the strongest and the most systematized organization among the reporters and journalists political idea education organizations The organization trains journalists and reporters on philosophy economics world history world literature and foreign languages Arguing about the contradictions in the system of North Korea itself is considered treason and is treated as a major violation in North Korean society Over 70 percent of reports of Korean Central Broadcasting are allotted for Kim s idolization and propaganda system The rest of the reports are spent on blaming and predicting the collapse of the United States Japan and South Korea The reporters in North Korea spend their time writing articles that reflect North Korea in a positive light Kim Jong Il used to punish the people who wrote from a different point of view saying Words describe one s ideas 44 After re education a journalist who works for over 15 years and has made a major contribution is titled a distinguished journalist 45 Internet policies editFurther information Internet in North Korea In 2006 Julien Pain head of the Internet Desk at Reporters Without Borders described North Korea as the world s worst Internet black hole 46 in its list of the top 13 Internet enemies 47 Internet access is not generally available in North Korea Only some high level officials are allowed to access the global internet 48 In most universities a small number of strictly monitored computers are provided Other citizens may get access only to the country s national intranet called Kwangmyong 49 Content on Kwangmyong is curated by Korea Computer Center 50 Foreigners can access the internet using the 3G phone network 51 52 However the IT industry has been growing and Internet access is starting to increase within North Korea 53 With few exceptions Kwangmyong is completely separate from the global internet as a means for North Korea to use private state controlled resources which is completely regulated by the regime 54 This intranet is difficult for foreign adversaries to access and therefore allows the country to maintain its own private internet The North Korean Ullim an Android based tablet computer available since 2014 has a high level of inbuilt surveillance and controls The tablet takes screenshots of apps opened by the user and saves browsing history 55 The tablet also only allows access to a limited number of approved applications shares watermarking data to track the distribution of content between people and only allows users to access content created on the tablet or from the tablet 56 Content sent from other users or third party platforms cannot be accessed As of 2022 ordinary citizens with mobile devices do not have access to the global internet Instead these individuals are only able to access Kwangmyong that is operated by the country In terms of global internet access this privilege is only granted to a small number of North Korean elites 57 Internet access is restricted to military and government business 58 See also edit nbsp Freedom of speech portal nbsp North Korea portalMedia of North Korea Telecommunications in North Korea North Korean postal service Propaganda in North Korea Mass surveillance in North Korea Human rights in North Korea Cyberactivism in North KoreaReferences edit Index RSF rsf org Retrieved 2022 10 20 Kim Jong Il s leadership key to victory Naenara Archived from the original on September 30 2007 Retrieved January 27 2006 North Korea ranked the world worst in Freedom of Press Voice of America Retrieved February 12 2015 a b Censorship Background and Ideology Censorship and Government Regulation of Music wordpress clarku edu Retrieved 2022 10 20 reserved VTNV Solutions Limited https www le vpn com Sitemap c 2022 Le VPN All rights Internet Censorship in North Korea Le VPN Retrieved 2022 10 20 North Korean Censorship of Literature and How it Affects Children YA Literary Globetrotters u osu edu Retrieved 2022 10 20 King Robert R 15 May 2019 North Koreans Want External Information But Kim Jong Un Seeks to Limit Access www csis org Retrieved 2022 10 20 Report on Serious Human Rights Abuses or Censorship in North Korea United States Department of State Retrieved 2022 10 21 North Korea RSF rsf org 6 July 2020 Retrieved 2022 10 20 Hyun Sik Kim 6 October 2009 The Secret History of Kim Jong il Foreign policy www foreignpolicy com Retrieved 28 September 2017 North Korea Freedom House Freedom House Archived from the original on 10 September 2015 Retrieved 27 September 2017 Robertson Phil Kim Il sung s catastrophic rights legacy HRW HRW Retrieved 27 September 2017 permanent dead link Richardson Christopher 16 February 2015 North Korea s Kim Dynasty The Guardian Retrieved 27 September 2017 Harlan Chico In North Korea the State Run News Agency Is the Weapon of Choice Washington Post Retrieved 5 October 2017 Weiser Martin 31 October 2016 On Reading North Korean Media The Curse of the Web SinoNK com Sino NK Retrieved 5 October 2017 Korean Central News Agency NorthKoreaTech org North Korea Tech Retrieved 5 October 2017 Linton Stephen 1996 North Korea under the Son The Washington Quarterly 19 2 3 17 doi 10 1080 01636609609550194 Lee Kristine 2011 No Revolution Here Harvard International Review 33 2 8 9 Retrieved 3 October 2017 Barrett Liz Cox 2013 Elements of Gangnam style Columbia Journalism Review 51 5 48 Retrieved 3 October 2017 a b c Sang hun Choe 26 March 2016 North Koreans Rely on Smuggled Cellphones to Connect to the Outside World The New York Times Retrieved 3 October 2017 a b Tong hyung Kim Youkyung Lee Look At How Bizarre North Korea s Internet Is BusinessInsider com Business Insider Retrieved 3 October 2017 North Korea Encouraging Internet Cellphone Use so it can Better Spy on Citizens GlobalNews ca Global News Retrieved 2 October 2017 Ki cheol Kim New Ban on Select Cell Phones in North Korea NewFocusIntl com New Focus Archived from the original on 17 February 2019 Retrieved 3 October 2017 Franceschi Bicchierai Lorenzo 16 February 2017 Here s What Making Cell Phone Calls in North Korea Sounds Like Vice com Vice Retrieved 3 October 2017 North Korea Profile Leaders BBC News Goldman Russell 15 March 2017 DNA Confirms Assassination Victim Was Half Brother of Kim Jong un Malaysia Says The New York Times a b 2020 World Press Freedom Index Reporters Without Borders Sedaghat Nouran NORTH KOREA EXPOSED CENSORSHIP IN THE WORLD S MOST SECRETIVE STATE Canadian Journalists for Free Expression Archived from the original on 2021 03 17 Retrieved 2017 10 25 a b Report on Human Rights Abuses or Censorship in North Korea U S Department of State U S Department of State Bureau of Democracy Human Rights and Labor Radio gives hope to North and South Koreans CNN Asia February 27 2008 Retrieved April 28 2010 Kevin Kane 5 March 2007 Private Citizens Liberating North Korea with Shortwave Radio Daily NK Retrieved 10 July 2014 Illicit access to foreign media is changing North Koreans worldview study says The Washington Post Associated Press May 10 2012 Archived from the original on December 25 2018 Retrieved May 10 2012 Nat Kretchun Jane Kim May 10 2012 A Quiet Opening North Koreans in a Changing Media Environment PDF InterMedia Archived from the original PDF on May 12 2012 Retrieved May 10 2012 The primary focus of the study was on the ability of North Koreans to access outside information from foreign sources through a variety of media communication technologies and personal sources The relationship between information exposure on North Koreans perceptions of the outside world and their own country was also analyzed 11 years ago Pearson James March 27 2015 The 50 device that symbolizes a shift in North Korea Reuters Archived from the original on March 27 2015 Retrieved June 30 2017 Cheap Chinese EVD player spreads S Korean culture in N Korea Yonhap October 22 2013 Archived from the original on April 2 2015 Diffusion de la vague coreenne hallyu au Nord par TV portable Yonhap in French October 22 2013 North Korea s Nascent Consumerism Asia Sentinel 19 March 2012 Retrieved 12 April 2017 Worldwide press freedom index Reporters Without Borders Archived from the original on January 28 2012 Retrieved January 9 2008 World Press Freedom Index Voice of America Archived from the original on March 5 2016 Retrieved February 12 2015 Map 2014 World Press Freedom Index Reporters Without Borders 2014 Archived from the original on 14 March 2017 Retrieved 21 April 2016 Map 2016 World Press Freedom Index Reporters Without Borders 2016 Archived from the original on 14 March 2017 Retrieved 21 April 2016 North Korea Reporters Without Borders 2017 Retrieved 2017 04 28 2019 World Press Freedom Index RSF Reporters Without Borders North Korea controls over foreign countries press in Korean June 20 2007 What would be the role of the journalist in North Korea the country remarked as the lowest in Freedom of Press Seunguk Baek Archived from the original on April 19 2015 Retrieved December 20 2014 The Internet Black Hole That Is North Korea The New York Times October 23 2006 List of the 13 Internet enemies Reporters Without Borders Archived from the original on January 2 2008 Retrieved January 9 2008 Freedom of the Press North Korea Freedom House Archived from the original on 7 July 2014 Retrieved 15 July 2014 Eric Talmadge 23 February 2014 North Korea Where the Internet has just 5 500 sites Toronto Star Associated Press Retrieved 15 July 2014 Sedaghat Nouran North Korea exposed Censorship in the world s most secretive state Archived from the original on May 9 2015 North Korea to offer mobile internet access BBC 22 February 2013 Retrieved 15 July 2014 Caitlin Dewey 26 February 2013 Instagrams from within North Korea lift the veil but only slightly Washington Post Retrieved 15 July 2014 Lee Jean H 2011 07 25 North Korea s Digital Revolution Under Way Associated Press Retrieved 2011 08 08 North Korea 2022 Intelligence Assessment Analyst1 Retrieved 2022 10 20 Williams Martyn 3 March 2017 All That Glitters Is Not Gold A Closer Look at North Korea s Ullim Tablet 38 North U S Korea Institute Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies Retrieved 6 March 2017 WebMechanix 2017 03 03 All That Glitters Is Not Gold A Closer Look at North Korea s Ullim Tablet 38 North Informed Analysis of North Korea 38 North Retrieved 2022 10 20 North Korea Freedom in the World 2022 Country Report Freedom House Retrieved 2022 10 20 North Korea 2022 Intelligence Assessment Analyst1 Retrieved 2022 10 20 External links editThe Daily NK The Hub of North Korean News Free North Korea Radio North Korea Reform Radio Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Censorship in North Korea amp oldid 1181702820, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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