Chinese media still illegal in North Korea despite warming relations with China

Chinese media still illegal in North Korea despite warming relations with Chin
source: DailyNK

Kim Jong Un and wife Ri Sol Ju attend a ballet performance by a
Chinese art troupe at the East Pyongyang Grand Theater.
Image: Yonhap News Agency



The North Korean authorities are maintaining restrictions over Chinese media consumption and continuing to punish viewers despite the regime's friendlier stance towards China since Kim Jong Un's visit to Beijing last month, according to a source inside the country. The moves are seen as further evidence of the government's intention to prevent its new warming diplomacy from resulting in domestic cultural changes, at least for now.


"[State media] used to curse China and their 'bad' society, and Chinese people living inside North Korea were treated with hostility. But now they are not saying those things, and it seems like relations are improving with China," a source in North Pyongan Province told Daily NK on April 19.


However, a source in South Pyongan Province said, "in addition to South Korean dramas, the viewing of Chinese movies is also prohibited. While relations between the two countries have gotten better again lately, the authorities haven't returned to allowing people to watch Chinese movies."


A separate source in North Pyongan Province confirmed the situation, saying, "Getting caught watching South Korean dramas will of course land you in jail, but as Chinese movies are still not approved, those caught watching them are also sent to a detention center for a couple weeks."


He described a recent incident where "a man in his 30s had a Jackie Chan movie on a USB stick and gave it to someone else, but that other person was caught and they were both arrested.”


The man reportedly spent ten days in detention and was forced to write a confession detailing the smuggling route used to obtain the movie before being released.


Even as Sino-North Korean relations appear to be normalizing after Kim Jong Un's meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing, and after the population has become well aware of this initially secret meeting, the benefits of warming ties to the general population remain elusive.


"People know about the Marshal's (Kim Jong Un) meeting now since it was reported in the news, but this has not resulted in a loosening of restrictions. It’s a separate issue," the source in South Pyongan Province said.


The circumstances may mean that even if next week's inter-Korean summit goes well, it may not result in the North loosening restrictions on South Korean media. And even as North Korea appears enthusiastic about the recent arts performances for elites in Pyongyang by South Korean and Chinese art troupes, these do not necessarily signal an impending relaxation over foreign media controls for the rest of the domestic audience.


Meanwhile, a new push in the crackdown on South Korean media began in March, with many residents turning to Indian movies as a safe alternative.