Censorship in North Korea
- Dec 12, 2024
- 2 min read
By: Rishit Mehley
In the digital age, freedom of expression and opinion has evolved to encompass the Internet. Now, a person can share their thoughts while regarding the thoughts of others on many platforms in an unrestricted manner. Unfortunately, this fundamental human right is not present in all areas around the world and is particularly restricted in North Korea, where radios have preset stations, and the Internet is a myth to most of the population.
Radios in North Korea are given out to families already registered and tuned, inhibiting them from using a wide variety of media sources for their news. Furthermore, it’s prohibited for individuals to try and tune their radios to foreign broadcasts as being caught can lead to confiscation of the radio and imprisonment. However, some individuals at the risk of getting caught, buy unregistered radios which gives them access to foreign stations that are not overseen by the government.
The Internet is a scarce privilege, with most of the population completely cut off from using it. Only certain officials and the elite have this service available to them. Even then, internet access is not unrestrained as a monitor is present beside the user making note of and approving their browsing activity. The process of approval for internet use is extremely strenuous, taking multiple days as a request must be approved by multiple officials; a process much different from countries where all that is needed to access the internet is a device and an accompanying wi-fi signal.
There is no freedom in journalism in North Korea. Journalists are re-educated regularly to specifically praise the current party in power or to paint North Korea’s enemies in a negative light. Due to this lack of freedom of expression, North Korea is consistently ranked last or near the bottom of the Press Freedom Index. A successful journalist in North Korea can reliably and consistently push any propaganda about the government or its enemies to the general public, who listens to these through the pre-tuned radios provided to them.
North Korea’s infrastructure is able to support the digital era that is prevalent throughout the world. Around 50-80% of the population of North Korea has access to mobile phones and devices, proving that the technology is there, all that is needed is a reform in government policy.
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