North Korea has taken another step to bolster its international digital presence
North Korea has taken another step to bolster its international digital presence with the launch of an English-language website of the country’s main newspaper.
The website of “Rodong Sinmun,” the newspaper of the country’s ruling Workers Party, was launched on January 10.
In recent years, North Korea accounts have emerged on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube and the Korean Central News Agency launched a revamped multimedia-rich version of its website.
With the vast majority of North Koreans not having access to the Internet, such initiatives are aimed solely at an international audience. Those who have do have Internet access connect through the “Kwangmyong,” essentially an isolated national Intranet with heavily controlled content and filtered search.
The content of “Rodong Sinmum” is unsurprising: legions of soldiers on parade grounds, a story on the “brisk production” of a machine-tool plant, and screeds against the “fascist” South Korea and their “dangerous war hysteria.”
One commentary says that Kim’s feats “in the cause of global independence will remain shining forever” in history. Another, titled “Leader Kim Jong Il’s Holidays,” talks of Kim’s devotion and unimpeachable work ethic. “While people spend Sundays, going on picnic and enjoying their time on pleasure grounds, he would continue to be on his forced march,” the author writes.
While mostly focused on Kim Jong Il, the newspaper is also looking ahead to the Kim Jong Un era. A ticker running across the screen reads, “Glorify this year 2012 as a year of proud victory, a year when an era of prosperity is unfolding, true to the instructions of the great General Kim Jong Il.”
Asians + English = Future of the world!