Executive Summery 

North Korea is a dictatorship that maintains its hold on power by a combination of ideology known as Kimilsungism-kimjongilism, cult of the Kim dynasty, and isolationism. The state's survival strategies are examined in this report, which explores both historical foundations and modern strategies. Historically, the regime has shaped narratives both domestically and internationally by using psychological and military propaganda. Information manipulation is accomplished through the Korean Central News Agency, which guarantees adherence to the official line of the state. A recent development is North Korea's deliberate use of YouTube to present a more positive image. This includes the use of YouTubers like YuMi and Song A. This shift to contemporary platforms represents the regime's changing strategy for using cognitive warfare. North Korea's resilience comes from its capacity to preserve tight control while modifying propaganda techniques for use in modern media.

Introduction

North Korea, officially named Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, is a totalitarian dictatorship. The state’s first dictator, Kim II-Sung, presented himself as a cult personality by drawing on his origin from the sacred mount Peaktu[1]. The constitution defines North Korea as dictatorship of people’s democracy, under the Worker’s Party of Korea, with legal supremacy over other political parties due to presence of Kim family within it. The North Korean system is built upon principle of centralization.[2] It continues to the rear of Communist dictatorship with complete isolation to counter any external threat and to preserve their culture. Under the Kim dynasty, the state has not only received International attention due to isolation policy but also strategic use of information warfare[3]. The control over manipulating public opinion within or beyond its border by using propaganda to shape narrative and perceptive has helped in regime stability. To investigate how North Korean dictatorship has survived so far, this report shed light upon perceptive of political, legitimacy, information warfare, and state-controlled media.

Historical Background 

WW2 ended in the division of Korean peninsula, North Korea was under legitimacy of Kim family. In 1948, the first dictator Kim Sung-II came into power through the platform of Workers’ Party of Korea. This political party held power within the state due to their origin with sacred mount Peaktu.[4] The current successor Kim jong Yun came into power in 2011. He imposed the policy of Sougun, or military first, policy and ideology of Kimilsungism-kimjongilism. This is the pivot point upon which North Korea build their strategies and design propaganda. [5]

Kimilsungism-kimjongilism is a revolutionary ideology of independence in perceptive of leadership, military independence without external pressure, self-sufficient economy, and to preserve cultural identity of Korea. To make this happen, North Korea embraced complete isolation policy[6]. This deepened repression and isolation and maintained fearful obedience in the population because threat of execution, enforced disappearance, forced hard labor in detention, imprisonment, and prisoner camps. The Kim family has efficiently practiced shock and awe strategy by imprisoning defendant families. Thus, the population fears to challenge or break policies of the dictator[7] The Workers' Party of Korea (WPK)'s Propaganda and Agitation Department (PAD) is in charge of North Korea's propaganda-related control and surveillance system. The PAD assumes the lead in ensuring that the official policy line of the dictatorship is supported and adhered to by all means of propaganda, from lectures at museums to state media and fine arts.[8]

Military Propaganda 

North and South Korea took a U-turn in 2004 when both states agreed to start new a phase of psychological warfare where there would be no propaganda; but North Korea has never given up the concept of Uriminzokkiri which means launching revolutionary spirit and campaign which the Korean peninsula by using official media channels, effective military capability demonstration, building anti-American propaganda, and portraying self-peaceful image [9]. North Korea portrays itself to be a worker’s paradise, while in reality North Korean workers suffer from brutal political control and impoverishment. Reports from North Korea has it the world best health care system are proving to be nothing more than deception.[10]

The North Korean military also includes psychological war to maintain their narrative and ideology. In 2016, North Korean hot balloons were caught crossing the Korean Demilitarized zone and, when caught, were they returned towards north. Pro-North Korean Leaflets were scattered within Seoul and in the Southern region. The South responded by distributing anti-Kim Jong Um leaflets and displaying DVDs of international News channels upon the border. Thus, both states had an agreement to pause which could stop further escalation of conflict when the initiation also reuniting the families whom were sported during WW2. But things changed after North Korean nuclear test [11]

Psychological Propaganda 

The Korean Central News agency (KCNA) is the state news agency of North Korea. They portal views of the North Korean government for both domestic and foreign actors and audiences. After South Korea lifted the ban over anti-Pyongyang leaflets distribution, North Korea responded by declaring this act as psychological warfare and threatened to respond with Shell shower. KCNA commented upon this media statement of lifting ban calling on the Korean constitutional Court to invalidate 2020 law that criminalized leaflets.  That decision was made upon concerns thus it is excessively restricting free speech. Furthermore, a complaint was also filled by a North Korean defending activist in the South, which highlights how the South frequently targeted the North Korean leader and government through hot air balloons and leaflets [12]. KCNA also warned this could lead a pre-emptive strike conducted before a war by North. KCNA often referred to the Ukraine war and Israel-Gaza war saying, “Under these circumstances where ting spark led to an explosion there is no such guarantee that military conformation happening in middle East and Europe would not happen in Korean peninsula. Upon November 21 when north Korea launched their first military shy satellite in US mainland, Japan and US territory of Guam. Which the US spokesperson responded with that US could deny any adversary state satellite capabilities using numerous means

North Korea replied to this, by saying they will tale countermeasures against individuals and organizations of US and its vassal forces that impose sanction upon North Korea. They justified their claim as North Korean expert on international relations was quoted in the media, stating that "the United States, the world's biggest satellite possessor," need to appear before the UN Security Council if satellite launches are deemed illegal. "In case an unexpected clash happens in the Northeast Asian region around the Korean peninsula, the U.S., which has continuously put pressure on the security space of the DPRK by escalating military threat and blackmail, will be held wholly accountable for the catastrophic situation," the editorial stated. It also accused the US of conducting joint military drills with South Korea and Japan and showcasing its nuclear-powered aircraft carriers.[13]

North Korean international analyst Kim Myong Chol reported a double-edged attitude of America towards the North Korean Nuclear program. North Korean leadership functioned as an introduction to a series of formal declarations, including those made by Kim Yo Jong and Kim Jong Un, urging the US and South Korea to renounce their "double-dealing" practices. The Kim siblings specifically stated that this retreat was required in order to improve ties between the two Koreas. They also brought up the important topic of military "balance." On October 23, the campaign was put on hold, probably because Pyongyang thought it had done its share and the North was waiting to see what would come of the Moon Jae-in administration's attempts to restart talks with Washington.[14]

YouTube cognitive warfare of North Korea 

On YouTube, North Korea is engaging in some questionable activity. Rather than deploying firearms, they are influencing people's thoughts and emotions through videos. They are not just using their military power to impress but also using YouTube to tell stories. YuMi and Song A, two North Korean YouTubers, are attempting to portray a more peaceful and hip view of North Korea in their videos. This type of warfare, known as cognitive warfare, involves manipulating people's thoughts and behaviors. Rather of engaging in gunplay, they are influencing opinions of others with YouTube stories. It is a brand-new type of warfare in which the tools are movies and words. The North Korean government selects YouTubers to create these videos. They want to project an image of North Korea as being kind and amiable, particularly to foreigners. The videos, which highlight young ladies and girls going about their daily lives, depict daily life in North Korea. The idea is to dispel the notion that North Korea is an unsafe destination and project a positive image The videos use narrative techniques to evoke strong emotions and a sense of community. They try to change negative perceptions of North Korea by talking about prosperity, freedom, and peace. The message is controlled by the government. By imitating European and South Korean YouTube styles, they try to appeal wider public, using conspiracies theories to justify wider public that North Korea is treated unfairly[15]

Conclusion 

North Korean regime survival hinges upon tightly controlled employment of isolation, ideology of kimilsunigm-kimijongilism, and cult of personality. The State strategically uses military, propaganda, deception to build narrative as per reinforced by state control media including Korean Central News Agency. Recent evolution of technology and the initiative of YouTube have also been effectively used by government of North Korea, that seeks to project a soft image of North Korea to the world. The ability of regime to adapt to controlled information is vital for success and survival of totalitarian rule which also undermine its resilience within the face of external analysis. 

Ayana Sheikh is an undergraduate student of Strategic Studies from National Defence University. Her areas of interest are maritime security, non-traditional security threat, information warfare  and technological studies in the region of Indo-Pacific.

[1] "'Inside North Korea' on National Geographic: Living Under the Kims' Dictatorship," Le Monde.fr, accessed date November 20, 2023.

https://www.lemonde.fr/en/culture/article/2022/07/25/inside-north-korea-on-national-geographic-living-under-the-kims-dictatorship_5991416_30.html#

[2] "Naenara Democratic People's Republic of Korea," accessed November 26, 2023, https://www.naenara.com.kp/index.php/Main/index/en/politics?arg_val=constitution.

[3] Bruce W. Bennett, "FORBIDDEN/DIRECTORY LISTING DENIED," RAND Corporation Provides Objective Research Services and Public Policy Analysis | RAND, accessed November 26, 2023, https://www.rand.org/pubs/commentary/2020/01/north-korea-selling-political-deception.html.

[4] “Inside North Korea on National Geographic: Living Under the Kims’ Dictatorship,”.

[5] Kim Il Sung Univeristy, "Kimilsungism-Kimjongilism, the Banner of Struggle for People Aspiring After True Freedom and Happiness - KIM IL SUNG UNIVERSITY,"  accessed November 26, 2023, https://www.ryongnamsan.edu.kp/univ/en/research/articles/9fd98f856d3ca20

[6] Ibid.

[7] "World Report 2022: Rights Trends in North Korea," Human Rights Watch, accessed date November 20, 2023. https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2022/country-chapters/north-korea.

[8] Rachel Minyoung Lee, "Understanding North Korea's Public Messaging: An Introduction," wilson center, accessed December 1, 2023,

 https://www.wilsoncenter.org/sites/default/files/media/uploads/documents/FINAL-NCNK-WWC-RMLee-UnderstandingNorthKoreasMessaging.pdf.

[9]https://www.researchgate.net/publication/265082375_An_Endless_Game_North_Korea's_Psychological_Warfare

[10] Bruce W.Bennett, “ FORBIDDEN/DIRECTORY LISTENING DENIED.”

[11] Brian Padden, "Koreas Ramp Up Psychological Warfare After Nuclear Test," Voice of America, last modified January 5, 2016, Accessed date 27 Nov 2023. 

 https://www.voanews.com/a/koreas-ramp-up-psychological-warfare-after-nuclear-test/3145316.html.

[12] "North Korea Threatens Retaliation to Anti-Pyongyang Leaflets," TIME, last modified November 8, 2023, Accessed date 27 November 2023

https://time.com/6332795/north-korea-propaganda-leaflets/.

[13] Heekyong Yan, "North Korea Says Interference in Its Satellites Would Be Declaration of War," Reuters, last modified December 2, 2023, Accessed date 3 December 2023

 https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/north-korea-says-interference-satellite-operations-would-be-considered-2023-12-02/.

[14] Mingyong Lee, “Understanding North Korea Public Message”.

[15]  Minwoo Yun, "North Korea’s Use of YouTube as a Tool for Cognitive Warfare," globalnk, accessed December 2, 2023,

 https://www.globalnk.org/upload/commentary/7ae7c579eecfcc8470f1e45f3c8