COVER | ONLINE RESOURCES | KOREAN CENTRAL BROADCASTING STATION

National Radio Broadcasting

North Korean domestic radio broadcasting is delivered by both over-the-air radio plus a unique system of cable radio which allows the regime to narrowcast directly into homes and workplaces as well as transmitting sensitive or strategic value programming; such as information and secret instructions to the masses that would be broadcast during a military drill or conflict.

North Korean national radio is more structured than radio in most other countries and is subjected to a multi-layered censorship and vetting process to ensure ideological soundness before any content is presented on air. The result is that very little live radio broadcasting is heard and the stations don't follow the concept of a disk jockey or announcer providing continuity between songs and segments. Music programs typically present propaganda tunes either praising the Kim family, the Workers Party or promoting nationalistic themes. Usually, a series of songs are played with few or no announcements between each number.

News bulletins are usually readings taken directly from official regime print media with commentary and editorials read from the Rodong Sinmun and other official publications. News headlines without exception always include references to Kim Jong Un, Kim Il Sung or Kim Jong Il.

Recording Radio in North Korea

Any North Korean citizen who attempts to access foreign broadcasts to seek information from the outside world risks being interned in one of the state’s notorious prison camps. North Korean radio sets don't feature tunning dials and are pre-tuned to the regime's radio networks to prevent North Koreans from listening to unauthorized stations.

Visitors to North Korea are strictly forbidden to bring into the country any radios or other communications equipment. The result is that little information about the propaganda based local radio system of the country has been gathered. Behind the Curtain has smuggled monitoring and recording equipment to capture the propaganda broadcast media used by the regime as a prime instrument of control over the population.

Korean Central Broadcasting
(KCBS)

The Korean Central Broadcasting Station (KCBS), (조선중앙방송), (Chosun Chungang Pangsong), is the primary domestic radio network in the DPRK. The station operates from studios at Jeonseung-dong in the Moranbong district of Pyongyang.

Chosun Chungang Pangsong broadcasts from 5 am to 3 am local time via a network of medium-wave and shortwave transmitters that cover the nation. A number of the transmitters are sufficiently powerful to be easily heard in neighboring countries, including South Korea where some of the frequencies are jammed. Chosun Chungang Pangsong is also available on the Thaicom 5 satellite as well as being relayed for a number of hours each day on the Voice of Korea, North Korea’s international shortwave radio service.

The programming includes the idolization of Kim Il Sung, Kim Jong Il, and Kim Jong Un, encouraging peoples labor and production, Juche education and propaganda based entertainment including music, revolutionary poetry, and book readings.