COVER | ONLINE RESOURCES | PYONGYANG FM PANGSONG

National 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.

Pyongyang FM Pangsong

The Pyongyang FM Pangsong network as its name suggests broadcasts exclusively on the FM radio band. The station is available in Pyongyang on 105.2 MHz.



The station has also been relayed on transmitters near the South Korean border in an attempt to attract listeners in the south of the peninsula on 92.5, 97.8 and 103.7 MHz. These southern frequencies are jammed by South Korean KMND Ministry of Defense silent jammers. Distorted low-quality audio quality is reported on the southern relay frequencies while the 105.2 MHz outlet in Pyongyang offers an excellent quality stereo signal. The broadcasts commence each morning with an interval signal (tuning identification signal) featuring a chime version of the first two lines of ‘The Song of Kim Jong Il.’



The station programming includes revolutionary-themed classical music, propaganda based popular music (such as the Moranbong Band) and literature dramas praising the military exploits and brilliance of members of the Kim family.