Position Paper 3 | Authoritarian Media

When people think about authoritarian media, North Korea is one of the clearest examples that comes to mind. North Korea has very strict control over the information that its citizens receive. The government controls the country's media, and the Korean Central News Agency, or KCNA, is the main official source of news. Because of this, the way an event is reported inside North Korea can be very different from how the same event is reported by news organizations outside of the country. For this assignment, I compared North Korean state media with reporting from Reuters to look at how the same events can create different perceptions of reality.

One example that shows this difference is North Korea's recent missile testing. On October 3, 2026, North Korea reported that Kim Jong Un supervised a hypersonic missile drill. According to KCNA, the missile was successfully launched and hit a target about 1,000 kilometers away. The report presented the test as an important demonstration of North Korea's military strength and its ability to protect the country. Reuters reported on the same event, but its story included more information from outside of North Korea. Reuters reported what KCNA claimed, but also included information from South Korea's military and comments from experts. South Korea disputed some of North Korea's claims about the missile's flight path.

This is one of the biggest differences between the two types of media. The North Korean report focuses mostly on the government's version of what happened. The missile test is presented as a success and as proof that the country's military is becoming stronger. The report also focuses on Kim Jong Un's involvement. This makes the event about more than just a missile test. It also helps create an image of Kim as a strong leader who is personally making sure that the country is protected.

Reuters takes a different approach. Instead of only reporting what North Korea said, it gives readers additional information that allows them to question or understand the claims being made. Reuters included information from South Korean officials and experts. This does not necessarily mean that everything reported by an outside news organization is automatically true, but it gives readers more than one point of view. This is important because readers can compare different claims instead of only receiving information from the government.

Another thing that stands out about North Korean media is that propaganda does not always have to mean completely making something up. Sometimes it can involve leaving out important information. For example, North Korea can truthfully report that a missile was launched while leaving out information about criticism from other countries, disagreements over what happened, or possible concerns about the test. The basic event may be real, but the way it is presented can give people a very different impression of the event.

This is why I think omissions are just as important as obvious lies when looking at authoritarian media. If people only hear that a missile test was successful, they may believe that North Korea's military is completely successful and powerful. If they also hear about disagreements over the test or information from outside experts, they have more information to form their own opinion. North Korean state media does not give its audience that same opportunity.

The stories that are emphasized by KCNA also show what the government wants people to pay attention to. Military developments, Kim Jong Un's activities, government accomplishments, economic projects, and national achievements are common subjects. The news often presents the government and military in a positive way. Reporters Without Borders says that KCNA is the only permitted news source for North Korean media and that the government tightly controls the production and distribution of information. It also says that independent journalism is prohibited.

This means the North Korean government's agenda is not just about reporting individual events. It is also about creating a certain image of the country. The government wants people to see North Korea as strong, successful, independent, and united behind its leadership. When military tests are repeatedly presented as successes, they can help create the perception that the country is powerful and prepared to defend itself.

Another major difference is who gets to speak. In a free press, journalists can interview government officials, military officials, experts, regular citizens, and critics. In North Korea, there is very little opportunity for independent journalists or government critics to publicly challenge the official story. Freedom House's 2026 report states that the North Korean state runs all media outlets and that the country has extremely limited freedom of expression. 

Reporters Without Borders currently ranks North Korea 179th out of 180 countries in its 2026 World Press Freedom Index. It says that independent journalism is strictly prohibited and that the government controls the country's media. This makes it difficult for someone living in North Korea to openly become a media watchdog or publish a story criticizing the government.

Social media is also very different in North Korea than it is in countries like the United States. In the United States, someone can record a video on TikTok, post something on Facebook, or upload a YouTube video and potentially reach thousands or millions of people. North Koreans do not have that same access to the global internet. According to Reporters Without Borders, the government controls communications within the country's intranet, and accessing media from outside the country can result in serious punishment.

Because of this, social media is not the main way that information about North Korea gets out to the rest of the world. Instead, information can come from defectors, foreign journalists, researchers, leaked information, and people who secretly access foreign media. Reporters Without Borders also notes that foreign movies and television shows sometimes enter the country through USB drives, even though people can face serious punishment for consuming outside information.

There are also recent examples of North Korean officials using state media to communicate messages about other countries. For example, in October 2026, Kim Yo Jong discussed possibly restarting propaganda loudspeaker broadcasts toward South Korea. Reuters reported her statements but also included South Korea's response and additional information about the situation along the border. Again, the difference is not necessarily that one side is completely lying and the other side is completely telling the truth. Instead, each side has its own claims and reasons for presenting the situation in a certain way. A reader gets a better understanding by looking at more than one source.

Overall, comparing North Korean state media with outside reporting shows how much the presentation of information can affect people's perception of reality. KCNA can report a real event, such as a missile test, but the government can decide which details are included, which people are quoted, and how the event is described. Outside news organizations can provide additional information, different viewpoints, and responses from other countries. The biggest issue with authoritarian media is therefore not just whether individual statements are true or false. It is also about what information people are prevented from seeing.

North Korea is an especially strong example because independent journalism inside the country is extremely restricted. Without a free press, citizens have fewer opportunities to hear competing versions of events or publicly challenge the government's claims. At the same time, information from defectors, foreign journalists, researchers, and outside media can provide a different perspective. Looking at both types of reporting makes it easier to see how media can shape perception. In North Korea, controlling the media allows the government to control much of the story that its citizens hear, which shows why having access to multiple sources is so important when trying to understand what is actually happening.