North Korea broadcasts random number transmissions on YouTube, then deletes the videos [Screenshot of North Korea Pyongyang Broadcasting YouTube account] [Image source=Yonhap News]
[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Park Hee-eun] It has been identified that the 'random number broadcast' uploaded on North Korea's external propaganda YouTube account is the same video that had been posted on the account of the National University Student Representatives Council (Jeondaehyeop) since 2019.
On the 30th, the YouTube account 'Jeondaehyeop' uploaded a video titled "What is the eerie and strange sound that comes out when you turn on the radio? Jeondaehyeop Random Number Broadcast" from July 2019. The video contained content reciting various combinations of numbers.
The video was found to be identical in content to a video titled "0100011001-001" that was uploaded and then deleted the previous morning from the YouTube account of Pyongyang Broadcasting, North Korea's external radio media.
In the video, the introduction saying, "From now on, we will inform you of the remote education university information technology basic review assignments for the 710th exploration team members," and the number combinations such as "Page 564, number 23; page 479, number -19; page 694, number 20..." were found to match.
Since the video content is the same as one already released last year, it is highly likely that the video was not produced as an actual directive for infiltrated agents.
However, if the Pyongyang Broadcasting YouTube account is genuinely operated by North Korea, the random number broadcast that was uploaded and then deleted the previous day could be a hacking incident.
Meanwhile, Martin Williams, who runs 'North Korea Tech,' a specialized media outlet on North Korean information technology (IT), claimed on his Twitter that "the Pyongyang Broadcasting YouTube channel is not operated by North Korea but is a fake account created in Mexico." Although photos of the North Korean flag and various North Korean news videos are posted, it may be a disguise to make it appear as if it is operated by North Korean authorities.
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