Specific Reason for Suspension Not Revealed
North Korean Authorities Suspected of 'Regime Propaganda' Use
YouTube channel accounts that introduced the daily lives of Pyongyang residents were suddenly suspended. These accounts have been suspected of being operated by North Korean authorities for propaganda purposes.
As of the 23rd, when accessing YouTube channels mainly posting content introducing North Korea, such as 'Song-a', 'Yumi', and 'NEW DPRK', the message "This channel is not available" appears. The specific reason for the suspension of these accounts has not yet been revealed.
However, there have been precedents where North Korean external propaganda online accounts, such as 'Uri Minjokkkiri', were deleted due to violations of service terms.
Although these accounts appear to be posted by ordinary residents living in North Korea at first glance, they have been suspected of being used for government propaganda. For example, 'Yumi', who claims to live in Pyongyang, posted various videos related to Pyongyang, the capital of North Korea, in January, saying, "Since I have not had the opportunity to visit Pyongyang for several years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, you might be curious about Pyongyang."
In the videos, she is seen freely engaging in hobbies such as yoga and introduces daily life in Pyongyang in fluent English, repeatedly emphasizing that "Pyongyang is a good, pleasant, and developed city."
However, the facilities shown in the videos are known to be accessible only to a privileged few in Pyongyang.
Pyongyang YouTubers, including Yumi, can freely enjoy luxury items in North Korea such as ice cream. [Image source=YouTube]
US CNN also cited an analysis by a North Korea expert, stating, "It is far from the life of ordinary North Korean residents. Internet use in North Korea is very restricted, and foreign materials such as books or movies are banned," and criticized, "Yumi's videos appear to be a 'prepared performance' orchestrated by the North Korean regime."
Park Sung-chul, a research fellow at the North Korea Human Rights Information Center, told CNN, "These YouTubers speak English fluently and have access to rare luxury goods (in North Korea)," adding, "This suggests that they are all highly educated and likely connected to high-ranking officials."
Experts analyzed that it is highly likely that the North Korean authorities are operating these accounts as a strategy to enhance the propaganda effect of the regime. In fact, Yumi never omitted mentioning in every video that "Chairman Kim Jong-un is making efforts to improve living conditions in Pyongyang."
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