A totalitarian voice

The government of North Korea controls everything whether its religion, economy, infrastructures, social life and media. North korea is known as the world's worst violator of press freedom by the media rights body Reporters Without Borders (RSF), media are all pre-adjusted and controlled to serve a specific purpose which is spreading propaganda and to protect and encourage the Kim regime. Radio, TV sets, phone, newspaper, internet are under direct state control. The news do not cover any kind of negative information about the country, tragedies, famine, poverty, catastrophes are all hidden and repressed by a flattering and fine quality of news about the leader Kim Jong-Il accomplishments and achievements in order to re-enforce his positive image and to attain praise from his people.

International Journalists and reporters are either banned from reporting the news or are under surveillance in order to not make contact with the locals. Of course the language does not make things easier but there is also this law that prohibits any advertising and use of English language. Just recently a little girl was photographed wearing a shirt which had on “I love Jesus”. This photography had a huge controversy since this society has a very constrained and tight religion freedom; the violators are tortured or sent to concentration camps or forced to labor.

According to the website, Koreans have endured inspections in their homes, where a group called “Group109”. This group is an organization which main goal is to find out and stop illegal media coming from South Korea this includes CDs, DVDs, recorders and other goods. For a long time, bribery has solved this violation issue but since it holds the exhibitions for introducing export goods, trade business and investment environment at home and abroad the rules have been tightened, in order to keep a certain order and status. All violators are severely punished and are made an example of.

"The totalitarian regime in North Korea keeps its people in a state of ignorance through tight control of the media" Reporters Without Borders

The authoritarian and dictatorial regime in North Korea keeps its people blind and ignorant through tight control of the media, this only benefits the Korean matter since the government owns all the means of production therefore pushing the people to consume only local brands as a result controlling the market and erasing competition.

Is the authoritarian regime ruling North Korea harming the country or rather benefiting it? A very debatable question that lies in the hearts of all North Koreans.