Censorship and Photojournalism in North Korea
By: Taraneh Niakan
Tags: Censorship, North Korea, Media Criticism, Propaganda, Photojournalism

Image courtesy of Micha Brändli via Unsplash

When stepping back and approaching the qualitative identity of a nation, one often looks to the media. However, one must not only look at how the government presents itself but at how the people present themselves. That is difficult to do with countries with strict censorship, like North Korea. As a result, not much is known about North Korea outside of Kim Jong-un’s brief press releases. Rarely, we will see testimonies from those who have escaped. Throughout the years, the rest of the world has only gotten a few glimpses at one of the most elusive nations.

Though North Korea specifies freedom of speech and press in its constitution, the government holds a domineering and unyielding grasp on what media goes in and out of the country. North Korea prohibits its citizens from access to the worldwide web, news, and entertainment. Many families still manage to sneak in American and South Korean movies through a black market, similar to countries like Iran and Turkmenistan. Internet and social media usage is severely restricted. The totalitarian regime aims to monitor every step of its civilians’ real and virtual activities. As someone across the globe, I wonder how another human’s daily life is in North Korea. I wonder to what degree does it differ from the life I live in San Francisco. North Koreans have smartphones, and those smartphones have cameras. Though government regulations prevent leakage, the people take pictures, ensuring nothing circulates on the web or social media.

Most of the photos we see of North Korea are propaganda geared towards the exaltation of the nation’s supreme leader, Kim Jong-un. For instance, once in a while, an image will be publicized of Kim Jong-un majestically riding a horse up Mount Paektu, a sacred mountain on the border of China and North Korea. He mounted this horse in the eyes of the public more than once. These ceremonious images are released usually near drastic policy changes. A version of this photo was released when North Korea launched a missile and also when Kim Jong-un supposedly executed his brother. These publicity stunts are rumored to instill a sense of trust to counter his controversial totalitarian administration.

Moreover, it is nearly impossible for photojournalists to get access as the government sternly denies essentially every attempt. In 2018, eight South Korean journalists were denied access to what would be a considerable press opportunity- a nuclear shutdown- after initially being told they would be allowed in.

Regardless, a few photojournalists were granted access, though being consequently subject to stringent rules. National Geographic has commissioned many of these rare glimpses inside the nation, especially with the pivotal undercover documentary, “Inside North Korea” (2002). Photojournalist and National Geographic Fellow, David Guttenfelder, has been to North Korea more than 40 times. In 2015, he photographed stunning photos for the New York Times on a six-day trip in North Korea. In 2016, he presented adorable images of school children’s sports and recreation routines. Guttenfelder answered a series of questions regarding censorship and his stay. He explains that on his first trip in 2000, he was not allowed to take any photos. Over the years, he explains how many of the photos he is deliberately allowed to take usually serve to reflect North Korea’s self-image, though he has been able also to capture tender, candid moments like a tearful goodbye at a train station or a touching father and daughter moment.

Eric Talmadge, who passed away last year at 57 years old, was the Tokyo News editor for AP (Associated Press). Talmadge documented the daily life of North Koreans as well as the nation’s tumultuous political nuclear frenzy. He lived with his family in Tokyo and would take trips to North Korea on sometimes month-long visits. He went on road-trips in the country, documenting beautiful landscapes hardly anyone had seen. His articles help paint a picture of the authentic life and customs- like what Christmas was like, with lights and trees but without Jesus. He posted photos on his Instagram, not unlike our own- a little girl on rollerskates in Kim II Sung Square or two women at a coffee shop. With these critical relics, slowly, we can put the fragmented pieces together to paint the picture of North Koreans’ everyday life.

Getty Images photographer, Carl Court, was another photojournalist allotted the rare opportunity to capture the nation’s snapshots that feels so far away. Court took photos depicting a world not different from our own. We see colorful, joyful children in school, a nursery, and a woman dressed up outside of a temple. These photos were allegedly were all strictly monitored and staged.

Nevertheless, we eagerly wait for the next opportunity to see a fairer representation of North Korea.

It is easy to call PROPAGANDA! on not only the work of Carl Court but on all of the photos that emerge from North Korea, like the children in school juxtaposed with publications that laud the supreme leader. Bias and censorship in the press raise the question of the integrity of media in general. In the US, we have freedom of the press. Instead of the government choosing to present what it wishes, our independent news channels, journalists, and social media pages choose to present their wishes. Therefore, we might as well get a diverse taste of our news and opinions in general. Getting information from multiple sources is one of the greatest privileges of freedom of the press. Only getting news from one source, maybe we might as well be living in a totalitarian regime like North Korea.