Consider having to live in an area where even something as straightforward as purchasing a television is tightly controlled by the government. For most parts of the world, TV shopping is a completely individual matter, and it’s your decision what you view. But in North Korea, even this fundamental right is very limited. This type of control of daily life is a vital component of the nation’s widespread censorship regime, which serves to uphold the regime’s grip on its populace.
The truth behind North Korea’s TV restrictions
When North Koreans purchase a television, the government does not simply allow them to use it as they wish. Timothy Cho, a North Korean escapee, explained, the government actively regulates even the most mundane consumer items. Cho explained that when a citizen buys a television, government authorities come to their house and take away all the antennas, leaving them with just one antenna. This is to ensure that only state-sanctioned content can be received, and any outside influence is cut off. The government is careful to ensure that citizens are not able to receive foreign broadcasts or other perspectives.
This monitoring goes beyond television buying. The regime’s intrusive monitoring is a reminder to North Koreans that everything they do, even the minutest of details, is monitored and controlled by the state.
How North Korean TV promotes the Kim dynasty all day, every day
Timothy Cho explained that North Korean TV is nearly entirely dedicated to celebrating the Kim dynasty’s heritage. “It’s all about the Kim family—programmes, documentaries, songs—all 24/7,” Cho said. The whole television programming network is meant to spread the regime’s ideology and glorify the ruling Kim family. This close regulation of content is one part of the government’s plan to keep its people from being subjected to external thought, whether that thought is foreign media or other domestic sources.
The end result is a totally controlled media landscape, where all information serves to support the narrative established by the Kim regime. Citizens are not allowed to have their own opinions regarding world events or their government. The media environment is an instrument of manipulation, isolating the population and making them reliant on the state for all information.
How North Korea controls every part of life
TV programming is only one indication of the broad reach of North Korea’s control over its citizens. Cho also explained how something as ordinary as a haircut is controlled. Children must adhere to a very short list of acceptable hairstyles. The styles are rigidly enforced, and even small variations can result in severe penalties. “If your hair is even a couple of centimeters longer than allowed, there are consequences,” Cho said. Parents of offending children can be punished, such as being brought to the police station to sign a statement.
This strict enforcement of personal style is one component of a more general attempt to dominate every area of life in North Korea, upholding the regime’s dominance over even the smallest personal liberties.
The struggles of escape and the isolation of North Korea’s totalitarian state
North Korea’s totalitarian state and its isolation from the outside world make it nearly impossible to escape. Timothy Cho’s story is a heartbreaking illustration of how far people have to go to escape the regime. Since the Kim family came to power in 1948, North Korea has been effectively closed to the outside world, and citizens are often stuck in the repressive system.
Cho, who was tortured after a failed escape attempt before eventually reaching the UK, shared that gaining insight into the daily lives of North Koreans is challenging. The country’s tightly controlled borders make it difficult for outsiders to understand what life is truly like for the average citizen. Most of the information available comes from controlled tourist visits, which only show a carefully curated version of the country. These defector testimonies such as that of Cho, therefore, play a critical role in unveiling the harsh realities of life within North Korea.
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