North Korea
and Communication
ICA
Pre-Conference at Hilton Washington DC
May 24,
2019
North Korea
has been an under-explored area in communication research. Limitations on
movement and communication, as well as physical isolation of the country in the
global arena, has made it difficult for scholars to produce meaningful research
about North Korea. In recent years, however, there have been major developments
in the communication infrastructure, with the introduction of cellular phones
to the general public, resulting in over 70% of Pyongyang citizens having
access. Foreign correspondents from the US, Europe and South Korea have been
allowed to set up permanent foreign bureaus. In 2018, the North Korean leader
has engaged in fast-paced diplomacy with the US, South Korea and China. Taken
together, these changes are leading to a new era in communication about, within
and around North Korea.
