Part 2/9:
To understand the current state of North Korean media, it’s crucial to appreciate the historical backdrop. Following Japan's defeat in WWII, Korea divided into North and South in 1945. With Soviet support, Kim Il-sung established a dictatorial regime in the North in 1948. The regime emphasized self-reliance through its Juche ideology, which justified oppressive control and fostered a cult of personality around Kim Il-sung. Subsequent leaders, his son Kim Jong-il and grandson Kim Jong-un, continued this legacy, further entrenching the nation in a restricted societal framework devoid of freedom of expression, information, or movement.