{"id":4618,"date":"2020-06-19T21:37:18","date_gmt":"2020-06-19T12:37:18","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.01.asiapress.org\/rimjin-gang\/?p=4618"},"modified":"2022-01-24T15:28:14","modified_gmt":"2022-01-24T06:28:14","slug":"nk-tv","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.02.asiapress.org\/rimjin-gang\/2020\/06\/recommendations\/nk-tv\/","title":{"rendered":"\uff1cA Look at the Latest in N. Korean TV\uff1e Regime Introduces New TV Channels to Combat the Popularity of K-Dramas"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The \u201cBlue Sky\u201d device. It is a simple machine and is only about 20 centimeters wide. Photograph taken by ASIAPRESS<\/p><\/div>\n

The Kim Jong-un regime has long waged a crackdown on foreign media being smuggled into the country from China. Since the mid-2000\u2019s, illegal copies of South Korean movies and dramas have been tremendously popular in North Korean markets.<\/p>\n

In recent years, young North Koreans have begun imitating not only South Korean fashion but the \u201cSeoul dialect\u201d as well. Through watching the videos, North Koreans also began to compare their country\u2019s decades-old authoritarian politics and failing economy with the free and affluent South Korean society depicted on their screens. In fact, South Korean dramas have been a major reason behind public sentiment movingsteadily in favor of the South.<\/p>\n

The North Korean authorities are naturally eager to prevent the further spread of foreign media. Indeed, VCD (video CD) and DVD dealers and copiers have been caught up in the resulting crackdown and punished severely. Though they were not political prisoners, DVD dealers were treated as felons and punished as such. This led some to defect to South Korea or Japan for fear of arrest.<\/p>\n

Another strategy the regime implemented towards ending the spread of foreign media was to diversify and improve upon its own state media. By digitizing and introducing multiple TV network channels, the regime hoped to stymy the people\u2019s \u201ctemptation of curiosity\u201d regarding foreign culture.<\/p>\n

ASIAPRESS recently succeeded in acquiring a North Korean digital tuner, introduced by the government for bringing multiple channels to North Korean televisions. What follows is a detailed report on the latest developments in North Korean television.<\/p>\n

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A scene from the North Korean animation, \u201cThe Young Warriors of Goguryeo.\u201d Originally broadcast by North Korea\u2019s Chosun Central Television<\/p><\/div>\n

\u25a0 The latest developments in North Korean television<\/h2>\n

ASIAPRESS possesses a North Korean hand-held television, produced by the brand \u201cBlue Sky.\u201d<\/p>\n

It was bought by a North Korean reporting partner at the end of 2019 and secretly smuggled over to China, before being flown to Japan via South Korea. Printed with the word \u2018su-jib,\u2019 meaning \u2018digital\u2019, it is a digital tuner for watching multiple television channels.<\/p>\n

Except for residents of Pyongyang and Kaesong, the closest residential area to the DMZ, there used to only be one TV channel available to North Koreans, \u201cChosun Central TV.\u201d Aside from this programming, residents of Pyongyang could enjoy films produced in the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe on the weekends, broadcast by \u201cMansudae TV.\u201d Residents of both Pyongyang and Kaesong, meanwhile, could watch broadcasts of \u201cKaesong TV,\u201d with programming characterized by an awareness of South Korea and strong propagandistic elements.<\/p>\n

In North Korea, digital broadcasting began on a trial basis in 2012 and, at the end of 2017, the nation went one step further, switching to digital HD broadcasting. It was around this time that multiple channels were introduced. These days, there are 4 channels available throughout the country.
\nNext page :\u25c6 \u201cNobody watches the news\u201d...<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u25a0 \u201cNobody watches the news\u201d<\/h2>\n

ASIAPRESS asked reporting partners living in North Pyongan Province, Ryanggang Province, and Hamkyung Province to provide information regarding the latest developments in North Korean television.<\/p>\n

According to reporting partners, Chosun Central Television, the main state broadcaster, is aired weekdays and Saturdays from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. and on Sundays from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. News is aired from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. and usually consists of political propaganda featuring the recordings of Kim Il-sung, Kim Jong-il, and Kim Jong-un. The channel also broadcasts animated programs for children and weather forecasts.<\/p>\n

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The famous North Korean news announcer, Li Chun-hi, who always wears a pink traditional hanbok. News broadcasts, however, are not said to be popular. Still taken from an original broadcast of North Korea\u2019s Chosun Central Television.<\/p><\/div>\n

According to a reporting partner, \u201cPeople sometimes watch Central TV for cartoons or movies. No one tunes in to watch the news. It\u2019s no fun, they just tell lies. It has been that way since way back when.\u201d<\/p>\n

The educational channel, \u201cRyongnamsan TV,\u201d broadcasts programs about science and foreign languages. As with the previously mentioned, \u201cKaesong TV,\u201d it used to only be broadcasted in Pyongyang and Kaesong.<\/p>\n

The channel was branded as the \u201cChosun Education and Culture Television\u201d in 1997 before being renamed to \u201cRyongnamsan TV\u201d in 2012. According to the ChosunShinbo, a pro-North Korea website based in Japan, the \u201cRyongnamsan TV\u201d channel is targeted at North Korean college students and is aired from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.<\/p>\n

\u201cMansudae TV,\u201d which has been aired nationwide since May 2016, broadcasts foreign films and special events, as well as coverage of incidents and events from around the world. It is said to be the most popular among North Korean viewers at present, though the channel only airs programming on the weekends.<\/p>\n

Regarding the channel, a reporting partner said, \u201cWhile watching the programming about incidents abroad, I try to see how advanced foreign countries are by their people\u2019s clothing and so on. The channel also shows many old foreign films, which are the only movies officially recognized by the authorities. They are still fun to watch though. I would say it is the people\u2019s favorite channel.\u201d<\/p>\n

Another channel is \u201cAthletics TV,\u201d a sports channel that began broadcasting in August 2015. It airs international competitions and sports-related programming. This channel also airs only on the weekends.
\nNext page :\u25c6 Residents welcome introduction of multiple channels...<\/strong><\/p>\n

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The front and back sides of the \u201cBlue Sky\u201d reveal digital input\/output terminals.<\/p><\/div>\n

\u25a0 Residents welcome introduction of multiple channels<\/h2>\n

The device used to tune to these 4 channels is the \u201cBlue Sky,\u201d a hand-held television signal converter.<\/p>\n

According to reporting partners, the subscription fee for the device is 6,000 North Korean won per year, with 500 won collected from each household every month by the head of the local people\u2019s unit (inminban). This service first began around the summer of 2018. (As of June 2020, 100 North Korean won is worth roughly 0.01 USD)<\/p>\n

The \u201cBlue Sky\u201d devices are sold by state-run stores and do not require a subscription or application to be purchased. North Koreans can buy the device for 130 RMB (about 22,000 South Korean won) and simply install the device themselves at home. Without the \u201cBlue Sky\u201d device, the only channel that North Korean televisions can access is Chosun Central TV, for which the annual subscription fee is said to be about 300 North Korean won.<\/p>\n

In summary, 60-80% of North Korean households in provincial cities and about 30-40% of households in rural areas have installed a \u201cBlue Sky\u201d device. It took around 2 years for the devices to reach their current level of popularity.<\/p>\n

The devices are particularly popular in Ryanggang Province and North Hamkyung Province as residents benefit from the economic opportunities that come from living close to the Chinese border and can more easily afford to purchase the devices. Other provincial areas, meawhile, have a slightly lower installation rate.<\/p>\n

Hotels and public facilities in Pyongyang are equipped with cable TV sets, but in provincial cities, households must connect \u201cBlue Sky\u201d devices to antennas in order to enjoy multiple channels. The devices also allow for owners to record TV programs and schedule recordings of programs in advance. In addition, owners can connect external USB drives to the \u201cBlue Sky\u201d devices.<\/p>\n

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The specifications of the \u201cBlue Sky\u201d devices. The specifications include detailed descriptions of the video, audio, USB2.0, and power settings.<\/p><\/div>\n

As discussed earlier, the Kim Jong-un regime has introduced multiple TV channels at the same time as cracking down on \u201cimpure\u201d foreign media.<\/p>\n

According to a reporting partner, \u201cMost residents watch foreign media rather than domestic television. Most people have a VCD, DVD player, or \u201cNotetel\u201d (a laptop-sized device which can play DVDs and videos on USB sticks) for listening to music and watching movies. They often watch animal documentaries. The popular Notetels are made in China and allow users to plug in USB devices to watch videos. If you get caught watching South Korean dramasthough, you will be sent to prison. People are scared, so they don\u2019t watch them at all these days. Instead, people are watching movies and dramas from China. But the authorities are even cracking down on those.\u201d<\/p>\n

The introduction of multiple channels was a major change for residents who were tired of watching the old-fashioned Chosun Central TV. On the other hand, it also reflects the regime\u2019s intention to strengthen its propaganda and prevent residents from watching South Korean dramas. (ISHIMARU Jiro)<\/p>\n

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