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The media of North Korea is among the most strictly controlled in the world. The constitution notionally 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. The government not only tightly controls all information coming in and out of the country, but seeks to mold information at its source. A typical example of this was the death of Kim Jong-il, news of which was not divulged until two days after it occurred. Kim Jong-un, who replaced his father as leader, has given every indication he will largely follow in his father's footsteps, however new technologies are being made more freely available in the country. State-run media outlets are setting up websites, while mobile phone ownership in the country has escalated rapidly. By early 2012 there were more than a million mobile phone owners in North Korea.[1]

Reporters Without Borders has consistently ranked North Korea at or near the bottom of its yearly Press Freedom Index since it was first issued in 2002. In its 2011-2012 report, RSF classified North Korea's media environment as 178th out of 179 countries in the rankings, only above that of Eritrea.[2]

The state news agency, the Korean Central News Agency, provides the only source of information for all media outlets in North Korea.[3]

The press is tightly controlled by the state. Article 53 of the North Korean Constitution protects freedom of speech and freedom of the press. In practice, the government only allows speech that supports it and the ruling party, the Workers' Party of Korea.[4]

The late 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 Workers' Party.[7] Candidates for journalism school must not only prove they are themselves ideologically clean, but must come from politically reliable families.[8] Journalists who do not follow the strict laws face punishment in the form of hard labour or imprisonment, even for the smallest typing errors.[2][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.[9] 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.[9] The media effectively paints the country in a positive light, describing itself "paradise on earth".[10] 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.[11]

The media have consistently upheld the personality cult of the Kim family since the country's formation. It frequently reported on the activities of late leader Kim Jong-Il, regularly reporting on his daily activities, frequently including "prayers" to founding leader Kim Il-Sung. Previously, media would refer to Kim Jong-Il as the "Dear Leader", though this was dropped in 2004.[12] 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 cult60% 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.[13] All indications are that this has continued under the country's third and current leader, Kim Jong-un; soon after his father's death he was acclaimed as the "Great Successor."[14]

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.[15] 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".[16]

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.[16] 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.[17] 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.[18]

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Media of North Korea - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia