North Korea is infamous for its strict control of information and media, with the state effectively banning foreign media consumption unless its publishers or media outlets first reprocess it. 

But despite the efforts of nongovernmental organizations and governments to broaden information access in the country, the international community still lacks a clear understanding of what kinds of information and dissemination strategies are likely to work within North Korea’s borders.

Our researchbased on a new survey of hundreds of former North Korean residents suggests generally low levels of social trust throughout the country, constraining the flow of information from person