Lifting ban on North Korean media can only help the South Korean government

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Lifting ban on North Korean media can only help the South Korean government

No other group inflicts as much damage on the DPRK's image as its own propagandists

Andrei Lankov September 1, 2022

Lifting ban on North Korean media can only help the South Korean government

A North Korean teacher in a classroom in South Pyongan Province | Image: Eric Lafforgue (May 16, 2009)

For many years, visiting a North Korean website from a South Korean IP address would prompt a serious-looking warning from ROK police explaining the website is blocked for containing illicit material.

The ban on DPRK state media dates back to the division of Korea and was perhaps understandable at one time. South Korea was fighting a civil war for survival against a stronger opponent and cut access to hostile propaganda.

About the Author

Andrei Lankov

Andrei Lankov is a Director at NK News and writes exclusively for the site as one of the world's leading authorities on North Korea. A graduate of Leningrad State University, he attended Pyongyang's Kim Il Sung University from 1984-5 - an experience you can read about here. In addition to his writing, he is also a Professor at Kookmin University.

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