December 07, 2023
Analysis

New North Korean drama leans on violence and foul language to appeal to viewers

More provocative propaganda may be attempt to cater to younger generations who have been exposed to foreign content

Bloody murders and a foul-mouthed antagonist feature prominently in a new North Korean television drama that debuted this week, in what appears to be the DPRK’s latest attempt to appeal to younger generations with more provocative propaganda content.

Korean Central Television (KCTV) aired the first episode of the new serial drama “A Note of an Official of the Prosecutor’s Office” (검찰일군의 수기) on Jan. 1. Produced by the state-run TV Drama Studio, the drama tells the story of an investigation into the theft of 3,000 military uniforms from a munitions factory during the Korean War.