September 24, 2023
Analysis

North Korean media turns to photoshop in bid to promote face mask use

Amid widespread fears over the spread of COVID-19, Pyongyang's propaganda workers get creative

North Korean media outlets have since mid-February sought to show all people in public places in the country wearing masks, in line with official directives to block the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

But NK News has found that this has resulted in multiple cases of what appear to be photoshopped images of mask wearers, where masks have been digitally added onto people and other alterations have been made to match the state’s propaganda messaging.