North Korea

One of the world’s most isolated countries, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, commonly referred to as North Korea, has a repressive media environment with all domestic media outlets in the country controlled by the state. These media outlets are used largely for propaganda purposes, bolstering rule by the Kim family—Kim Il-sung from 1948 to 1994, Kim Jong-il from 1994 to 2011, and Kim Jong-un since 2011. With no independent media or editorial freedom, media outlets adhere to the state’s juche ideology and serve as mouthpieces for the regime on domestic and foreign matters.

Most North Koreans are not allowed to access foreign media and are penalized if found listening to unauthorized broadcasts or possessing publications from outside the country. Foreign media get very limited access ...