Analysis by Ian Liston-Smith of BBC Monitoring on 13 October
According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, North Koreans have the most censored media in the world, tightly controlled by the ruling Korean Workers' Party. It lacks any true debate or diversity of opinion and is designed to support the objectives of Kim Jong- il's regime.
Television, radio and newspapers disseminate propaganda and flattering accounts of Kim Jong-il and his daily agenda. Negative news about the country is ignored. The internet is only accessible to an extremely limited number of trusted individuals.
Television
Latest UN data shows there are only 55 TV sets for every 1,000 people in North Korea. Most residents of Pyongyang are believed to have access to television.
TVs are fixed-tuned to the state channels since reception of foreign television is forbidden. There are three television channels, all government-controlled:
- Korean Central Television (KCTV) is the official television station of the Korean Worker's Party Central Committee and relayed throughout the country. Since 1999, KCTV has been available on satellite and is now broadcast via the Thaicom 5 at 78.5 east.
- Mansudae Television provides cultural programmes and operates on Sundays only.
- Korean Educational Network operates on Wednesdays and Sundays only.
A channel beamed to South Korea, Kaesong Television, is said to be jammed by the South Korean authorities.
Radio
Most households own a radio, but owning one is not a straight- forward business; it must be registered at a police station. The local communications office then ensures it is tuned to government stations and the radio's tuning is sealed and officials may check the integrity of the seals later. Cheap radios are smuggled in from China and often kept as an unregistered set and used to receive foreign broadcasts, although such activity is a serious "crime against the state".
Statements, commentary, or other news from the state-run news agency KCNA is transmitted to the outside world via the Voice of Korea. More unyielding rhetoric is often reserved for domestic radio (and television.) The main networks are:
- Korean Central Broadcasting Station (KCBS) is the domestic radio network
- Pyongyang Broadcasting Station is intended for a South Korean audience and carries some of the news carried by KCBS.
- The Voice of Korea (formally known as Radio Pyongyang) is the international shortwave broadcasting service. It broadcasts in Korean, Chinese, Spanish, German, English, French, Russian, Japanese, and Arabic. No website available.
- Radio for Soldiers at the Frontline is believed to be aimed at entertaining North Korean frontline soldiers. Programming consists mainly of songs, music and soundtracks from North Korean films. Operating times of this station are erratic.
One radio network is wired into most homes and workplaces, sometimes referred to as the "Third Network". This caries news and commentary that is considered too sensitive for consumption outside North Korea, such as criticizing activities inconsistent with national policy.
Broadcasts to the North
In a recent report, the South Korean government was said to use balloons to send short-wave radios into the North.
A family's second radio is likely to be tuned to entertainment programmes from foreign stations in preference to the State's monotonous output. But news from the outside world is also in great demand.
A number of broadcasters transmit specifically to North Korea and reports from refugees suggest that a significant number of people are prepared to risk listening to them. At present these stations are:
- KBS, South Korea's state-run broadcaster. Many domestic broadcasts from KBS can be clearly heard over the border. http:// english.kbs.co.kr
- KBS World Radio broadcasts to the world on shortwave in many languages including Korean. http://world.kbs.co.kr
- Echo of Hope says it is operated by Koreans living overseas and has broadcast to North Korea from transmitters in the South since 1973.
- Far East Broadcasting Company is a Christian radio broadcaster with programmes in more than 150 languages including Korean. www.febc.org
- RFA, Radio Free Asia, is a US government-funded service aimed at Burma, Cambodia, China, North Korea, Laos, Tibet and Vietnam. The station was established by the US Congress in 1996. www.fra.org
- VOA, Voice of America. www.voanews.com
- Shiokaze (Sea Breeze) is operated by the Investigative Commission on Missing Japanese Probably Related to North Korea and aimed at missing Japanese citizens believed to be held in North Korea. www.chosa-kai.jp/indexeng.htm
- Free North Korean Radio, founded by a group of North Korean exiles and funded by private donations and the Association of the North Korean Defectors. It broadcasts from transmitters in Mongolia, Vietnam and Russia. www.freenk.net
- Open Radio for North Korea relays messages from South Koreans to those in the North. www.nkradio.com
Reports from refugees also say that listening to some of the above stations helped them decide to leave the country. Since many of the above broadcasts are jammed, the authorities are aware that a significant proportion of the population own more than just the state-approved radio.
Television, radio and newspapers disseminate propaganda and flattering accounts of Kim Jong-il and his daily agenda. Negative news about the country is ignored. The internet is only accessible to an extremely limited number of trusted individuals.
Television
Latest UN data shows there are only 55 TV sets for every 1,000 people in North Korea. Most residents of Pyongyang are believed to have access to television.
TVs are fixed-tuned to the state channels since reception of foreign television is forbidden. There are three television channels, all government-controlled:
- Korean Central Television (KCTV) is the official television station of the Korean Worker's Party Central Committee and relayed throughout the country. Since 1999, KCTV has been available on satellite and is now broadcast via the Thaicom 5 at 78.5 east.
- Mansudae Television provides cultural programmes and operates on Sundays only.
- Korean Educational Network operates on Wednesdays and Sundays only.
A channel beamed to South Korea, Kaesong Television, is said to be jammed by the South Korean authorities.
Radio
Most households own a radio, but owning one is not a straight- forward business; it must be registered at a police station. The local communications office then ensures it is tuned to government stations and the radio's tuning is sealed and officials may check the integrity of the seals later. Cheap radios are smuggled in from China and often kept as an unregistered set and used to receive foreign broadcasts, although such activity is a serious "crime against the state".
Statements, commentary, or other news from the state-run news agency KCNA is transmitted to the outside world via the Voice of Korea. More unyielding rhetoric is often reserved for domestic radio (and television.) The main networks are:
- Korean Central Broadcasting Station (KCBS) is the domestic radio network
- Pyongyang Broadcasting Station is intended for a South Korean audience and carries some of the news carried by KCBS.
- The Voice of Korea (formally known as Radio Pyongyang) is the international shortwave broadcasting service. It broadcasts in Korean, Chinese, Spanish, German, English, French, Russian, Japanese, and Arabic. No website available.
- Radio for Soldiers at the Frontline is believed to be aimed at entertaining North Korean frontline soldiers. Programming consists mainly of songs, music and soundtracks from North Korean films. Operating times of this station are erratic.
One radio network is wired into most homes and workplaces, sometimes referred to as the "Third Network". This caries news and commentary that is considered too sensitive for consumption outside North Korea, such as criticizing activities inconsistent with national policy.
Broadcasts to the North
In a recent report, the South Korean government was said to use balloons to send short-wave radios into the North.
A family's second radio is likely to be tuned to entertainment programmes from foreign stations in preference to the State's monotonous output. But news from the outside world is also in great demand.
A number of broadcasters transmit specifically to North Korea and reports from refugees suggest that a significant number of people are prepared to risk listening to them. At present these stations are:
- KBS, South Korea's state-run broadcaster. Many domestic broadcasts from KBS can be clearly heard over the border. http:// english.kbs.co.kr
- KBS World Radio broadcasts to the world on shortwave in many languages including Korean. http://world.kbs.co.kr
- Echo of Hope says it is operated by Koreans living overseas and has broadcast to North Korea from transmitters in the South since 1973.
- Far East Broadcasting Company is a Christian radio broadcaster with programmes in more than 150 languages including Korean. www.febc.org
- RFA, Radio Free Asia, is a US government-funded service aimed at Burma, Cambodia, China, North Korea, Laos, Tibet and Vietnam. The station was established by the US Congress in 1996. www.fra.org
- VOA, Voice of America. www.voanews.com
- Shiokaze (Sea Breeze) is operated by the Investigative Commission on Missing Japanese Probably Related to North Korea and aimed at missing Japanese citizens believed to be held in North Korea. www.chosa-kai.jp/indexeng.htm
- Free North Korean Radio, founded by a group of North Korean exiles and funded by private donations and the Association of the North Korean Defectors. It broadcasts from transmitters in Mongolia, Vietnam and Russia. www.freenk.net
- Open Radio for North Korea relays messages from South Koreans to those in the North. www.nkradio.com
Reports from refugees also say that listening to some of the above stations helped them decide to leave the country. Since many of the above broadcasts are jammed, the authorities are aware that a significant proportion of the population own more than just the state-approved radio.
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