NK using social networking services to blast S. Korea

Amid the spread of social networking services in South Korea, North Korea’s means of propaganda and instigation are evolving in tandem.

“Between the Korean People,” a website run by the North’s Committee for Peaceful Unification of the Fatherland, launched a news report sharing service Monday. The site placed SNS icons of Twitter, Facebook, Me2Day of Naver and Yozm of Daum two commentaries condemning the South entitled “Plotted international film festival on North Korean human rights,” and “Aimed at demolishing progressive forces.” By clicking one of these icons, the report will be instantly posted on a user’s SNS.

Pyongyang opened an account for “Between the Korean People” on Twitter in August last year. The account has seen robust activity with more than 10,000 followers and more than 1,500 postings.

A Twitter account entitled “Pyongyang – Democratic People’s Republic of Korea,” is constantly retweeting content posted on the account of “Between the Korean People.” Additionally, the North opened an account of “Between the Korean People” on the video sharing site YouTube, and has posted more than 1,800 video files in stepping up its campaign to promote its regime using the Internet.

All North Korean websites are blocked in South Korea and hence are not directly accessible from the South. They are easily accessible overseas, however, and people in South Korea can also access them via circumvented routes through proxy servers. Few users have proxy servers due to fears over a slower traffic speed and virus infection.

Nevertheless, news reports from North Korea can quickly spread once they are posted on South Korean websites. Experts warn that South Korean authorities need to act urgently.

will71@donga.com