Author: Martyn Williams

  • KCNA again caught altering photo

    The official Korea Central News Agency apparently altered at least one of the photos it sent from funeral procession of Kim Jong Il this week. The New York Times’ Lens Blog reported on the image, which was redistributed by several western photo agencies and then killed due to questions over its authenticity. The photo was…

  • Pyongyang mourning at Hana Electronics

    Hana Electronics and the Hana Music Information Center, one of the last places reported to have been visited by Kim Jong Il before his death, was one of the locations used on Thursday to mourn his passing. State TV pictures showed a crowd that appeared to be at least in the thousands standing outside the building…

  • What North Korea’s media is calling Kim Jong Un

    The ascent of Kim Jong Un to the top spot in North Korea appeared on track Thursday as the country wrapped up two days of funeral events for Kim Jong Il. State media has bestowed an ever increasing number of titles on Kim since his father’s death was announced on December 19. It started the…

  • State websites raise name of Kim Jong Un

    State websites raise name of Kim Jong Un

    North Korea’s state-run websites began on Saturday printing Kim Jong Un’s name in a style previously reserved for Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il. The Korea Central News Agency, Voice of Korea and Rodong Sinmun started using a heavier or larger font when spelling out his name. Here’s how it looked on the KCNA…

  • What’s on North Korean TV and radio?

    North Korea’s state television is playing a leading role in attempting to set a national mood of solemnity as the country moves through its mourning period. The media, especially TV, has always played an important part in the government’s propaganda efforts so what’s on North Korean screens these days? In three words: Kim Jong Il. It’s no…

  • How the world reported Kim’s death, and how North Korea reported that

    How the world reported Kim’s death, and how North Korea reported that

    Uncertainty surrounding the future of North Korea and a succession of amazing images of mourning from Pyongyang continue to keep the death of Kim Jong Il at the top of the news in many countries. In Seoul and Tokyo (see picture, right) newspapers rushed out extra editions hours after the death was announced. Japanese newspapers…

  • Kim Jong Il’s death – Rodong Sinmun

    Kim Jong Il’s death – Rodong Sinmun

    A day after North Korea was told of the death of Kim Jong Il, his official portrait dominates the front page of the Rodong Sinmun. The newspaper is the most powerful mouthpieces for the ruling Workers’ Party and as such the front page isn’t a surprise.   Page 2 carries the official announcement of his…

  • Voice of Korea announces death of Kim Jong Il

    Voice of Korea announces death of Kim Jong Il

    The Voice of Korea, North Korea’s international radio service, made its first broadcast in English after the announcement of the death of Kim Jong Il. The broadcast was dominated by a news bulletin that attempted to carry some of the emotion being seen and heard on domestic media, but the announcer didn’t reach tears. The…

  • Kim Jong Il’s death – headlines from across the web

    The death of North Korean leader Kim Jong Il immediately became major news worldwide. Here’s how some major websites initially covered the story. Click on each image to see a larger version of the page.

  • Kim Jong Il’s death – How DPRK websites broke the news

    Kim Jong Il’s death – How DPRK websites broke the news

    A familiar newscaster dressed in black appears on screen and makes a tearful announcement: Kim Jong Il is dead. When North Korean state TV and radio broke the news at noon on Monday they had already given advance notice that a major announcement was coming. Its delivery was an attempt to set a national mood…