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History of Censorship in North Korea

Kim Il-sung (Leader from 1948-1994)

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 western and Japanese imperialism. Kim Il-sung’s rule was based on ruthless abuses, including frequent use of enforced disappearances and deadly prison camps to inflict fear and repress any voices challenging this rule. Kim Il-sung’s hardline views of limiting the freedom of expression of the North Korean people has been kept alive by current Supreme Leader and grandson of Kim Il-sung, Kim Jung-un. Today, all local North Korean media outlets are run by the state, the radio and televisions are permanently fixed to channels that the state have chosen.

North Korea’s biggest economic, political and military benefactor under Kim Il-sung was the Soviet Union and Joseph Stalin reportedly handpicked Il-sung, who was a fluent Russian speaker to be the ruler over North Korea. To help consolidate power, Kim launched the Concentrated Guidance Campaign; a massive ideological census and registration of the background and political purity of each and every North Korean. The Soviet influence in North Korea was endorsed under Kim Il-sung and the censorship we see in North Korea today began with the nationalization of major industries, labor reforms, seizure of privately owned land a propaganda campaign to enhance Kim Il-sung’s image in North Korean minds.

1946-Present: The Korean Central News Agency

Propaganda of North Korea

The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) is the state news agency of North Korea that was established on December 5, 1946. The agency portrays the views of the North Korean government for other foreign powers and countries to consume. According to its website, KCNA "speaks for the Workers' Party of Korea and the DPRK government" It's seen as the most influential news outlet in North Korea because its messages are geared toward foreigners and the North’s 24 million people.

It is the main, state-run news organization and is responsible for all news in North Korea and also distributes photos. Their content is available in Korean, English, Spanish and Japanese. From Jan. 1, 2011, the site also began offering video.The KCNA often broadcasts North Korean and pro-Kim propaganda. It has also reported fake achievements of North Korea, such as its space program and its standard of living as compared to the U.S. It continues to label South Korea and the U.S. as "imperialists". The news agency acts as the nation’s public relations and multimedia firm, with news that is not hard to tell from propaganda. South Korea’s Defense Ministry maintains a group of readers who try to interpret the significance of the news agency’s output. Some themes the KCNA consistently cover include denouncing the actions of the United States and Japan as well as promoting the celebrity and personality of Kim Jon Un and Kim Jon Il. Their 2,000 employees are under strict watch 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-Jon 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 of Korean reporting were deleted by the KCNA and his name was taken off every article in one of the outlets biggest censorship crackdowns.

Kim Jong-il (Leader from 1994-2011)

Massive portraits of Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il at the Arirang Mass Games in North Korea

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 of a heart attack and Kim Jong-il became the next member of the Kim Dynasty to rule North Korea. Kim Jong-il upheld his father’s authoritarian regime and strict censorship. He is 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.

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 own remarkable feats in this book, detailing when he saved a reporter from death and when he edited someone’s political essay to perfection. In the eyes of Kim Jong-il, a journalist’s purpose is not to report the truth, but instead to loyally praise their leader.

A painting of Kim Jong-il from North Korean propaganda

2004-2008: Cell Phone Ban

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. Cellular devices were initially introduced in North Korea in November 2002, banned on May 24th, 2004.

In December 2008 Orascom, an Egyptian company, introduced North Korea to Koryolink, a 3G network. Internet access is only permitted for foreign travelers or the elite. By 2015, 3 million North Korean had subscribed to this network. Users of Koryolink must apply for a 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.

In 2013, foreigners were granted 3G mobile phone Internet access with a monthly data plan that could be used via USB modem or through SIM cards. Recently, with more government awareness of alternative access to external information, increased security measures to eliminate these resources have been enacted. This includes higher border security where illicit cell phones gain access to China’s mobile networks.

These phones could potentially be vehicles for releasing detailed news of harsh ruling within the country which is strictly prohibited. Beyond punishment for those using phones within the country, 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 Korean’s send information and act as journalists and sources sharing stories. Prominent news accounts surrounding Kim Jung-Un’s ankle surgery and his wife, Ri Sol-ju’s 2012 pregnancy were released from these insiders.

Increasingly, as social media and news applications via smartphone 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 intranet, called "Kwangmyong". In contrast to the United States’ World Wide Web, this independent resource provides communication between Industry, Universities, and Government. It is used simply for the spreading of information through chats and emails which are both monitored and filtered by the government. Allowing only a select group of researchers, propagandists, media workers, etc to access state media and items which have been removed from the public’s Internet. Recently, with more government awareness of alternative access to external information, increased security measures to eliminate these resources have been enacted.

Kim Jong-un (Leader from 2011-Present)

Photorealistic-Sketch of Kim Jong-un

Kim Jong-un rules with a heavy hand and has worked to consolidate power since becoming the supreme ruler of North Korea on December 28, 2011. Ruthless in nature, he ordered the execution of his uncle, Jang Song-thaek, and allegedly commanded the assassination of his half-brother, Kim Jong-nam.

Kim Jong-un keeps North Korea under his surveillance through extreme censorship. The regime has a press freedom score of 85, with 100 being the worst score, and is ranked last in global rankings of 180 countries. North Korean journalists must belong to the ruling party 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. Failure to follow strict guidelines as set forth by Kim Jong-Un’s party can lead to imprisonment, forced labor or death.

Human rights violations in North Korea raise global concern. Kim Jong-Un’s leadership 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.