*Trigger Warning: This article includes paintings of war that can be disturbing to some. Discretion is advised.*
Governments use propaganda to manipulate the minds and attitudes of citizens. The North Korean government is known for producing mass amounts of propaganda through a variety of mediums all geared towards convincing average North Korean to believe in the brilliance of the Kim Dynasty and the superiority of North Korea's socialist society. Women are often used as the subject of many propaganda pieces. Oftentimes the traditional characteristics and perceptions surrounding the female image are used to convey a particular idea that the North Korean government wants its citizens and people outside of its borders to accept as a reality. Observing the drastic difference between the messages shared through propaganda and the realities faced by women residing in North Korea allows us to truly understand the false realities created by the North Korean government.
Propaganda Posters
Image found on the library of UCSD's digital library collections.
Some propaganda within North Korea highlights what the government believes the ideal North Korean woman should look like as they aim for creating a uniform society. The caption in the image above reads "Wear traditional Korean clothing, beautiful and gracious!", while women are shown in the poster wearing colorful hanboks, a traditional Korean outfit. The purpose of this poster is to convince people to adhere to following traditional forms of fashion rather than adopting foreign fashion trends. It is important to note that many North Koreans might hear of fashion trends that originate from places like the United States through word of mouth acquired through illegal means (i.e. tapping into foreign radio signals, smuggling across borders). However, the government has tried very hard to limit exposure to any form of foreign influence including fashion trends. For example, under Kim Jong-Un's rule, wearing blue jeans was banned as this clothing item was seen to be an uniquely American and a capitalist symbol. If the North Korean people are willing to embrace fashion trends, who is to say they will not also wish to embrace other western ideas like democracy and freedom of speech? The limitations on accepting foreign influences and relying solely on traditional Korean ideas showcases the government's fear towards what might happen if the North Korean people were to know about the realities that lie right beyond their borders.
This image is displayed at the Sinchon Museum of American War Atrocities located in North Korea.
This government also attempts to use propaganda to vilify those found beyond its borders. Other propaganda posters aim to inform North Koreans on the horrors that other nations have placed on the North Korean people. The image above depicts a scene from the "Sinchon Massacre", a massacre of Koreans that the North Korean government alleges was committed solely by United States soldiers. In the image, a group of American soldiers hold a gun towards a young Korean girl while other young girls fearfully reach out to her. The purpose of this painting is to write a history that places America as a perpetrator of evil and as the true enemy of innocent North Koreans.
One can not deny that American soldiers have committed acts of violence during times of war, but the legitimacy of North Korea's claims represented within the painting point to the true purpose of North Korean propaganda. Scholars have challenged these claims by suggesting that other groups, such as South Koreans and Korean communists, were also involved in perpetrating this attack and that United States soldiers are not solely to blame. If these contentions were to be true, the North Korean government would have little standing to claim that the posters like the one produced above fully characterize the reality of this massacre. The biased depiction of events in this way not only is used to correctly inform people on the forgotten truths of history, but rather to ensure that all North Koreans are convinced the United States is the true enemy.
Music
Performances like these are a relatively new form of entertainment in North Korea. In 2012 Kim Jong-Un revealed the Moranbong Band, an all female pop band equipped with electric instruments and beautifully dressed women singing the praises of the North Korean government and its leaders. Never before has the North Korean society been entertained in this manner. This group introduced a new form of popular music that glorified Kim Jong-Un as a leader and the societal ideals proposed by the government, such as uniformity and loyalty to the party. This group is one of the few instances of foreign influences having a direct impact on North Korean society as its structure and usage of instruments can be attributed to trends originating outside of the nation. Kim Jong-Un's wife, Ri Sol-Ju, was also instrumental in establishing this group. Catchy toons with beautiful voices and synchronized dances are used to spew more and more praise for the wonders and achievements only found in North Korea.
Some Moranbong Band hits include "I Sing in Praise of the Party", "Thinking of the General", and "He's Our Comrade Kim Jong". In the video above, the group of 6 young women sing lyrics like "He builds a paradise of the people- Our happiness Comrade Kim Jong-Un" and "People will live under his care forever," while additional musicians show off their skills as they play the drum, guitar, bass, violin, and piano. No one can deny that this group of women features a mass amount of talent, but because the product of such talents is solely focused on communicating the wonders of the Kim regime and the paradise that is North Korea, this propaganda creates a dystopian split between the realities of North Korean society and the falsehoods produced by the government. While flashy new uniforms and electronic symphonies can display the new regime's acceptance of some sense of foreign influence, the purpose of this new form of propaganda is no different from any other: to ensure the North Korean people are fully convicted in their loyalty to the Kim dynasty.
Films
North Korean women have also found their way into becoming the subject of many North Korean propaganda films. In 1972, Flower Girl (꽃파는 처녀) was released to a North Korean audience. The movie depicts Koppun, a poor Korean girl, living through Japanese occupation as she attempts to provide for her sick mother and blind sister by selling flowers. The main character also is shown having constant interactions with her corrupt landlord and she is eventually saved from imprisonment by the Korean Revolutionary Army. This film is considered to be a part of the Five Great Revolutionary Operas and was an adaptation of an opera allegedly written by Kim Il-Sung in the 1930s.
The movie grips audiences with its intense imagery of poverty during this time and the extreme circumstances faced by the main character. In one scene Koppun is out late at night selling flowers to whoever crosses her path. Then, a businessman, presumably a Japanese businessman, exits a building with two women dressed in traditional Japanese clothing. As the man approaches the girl to buy a flower from her, one of the women follows him towards the young girl, slowly looks over her, and proceeds to call her "dirty." A moment passes, then the businessman spits on the young merchant with a disgusted look on his face and exits the scene. The young girl is left with a shocked expression and tears pooling in her eyes. One can only feel for the main character as she deals with the extremely traumatizing events forced upon her.
Like other North Korean films, this movie uses the image of a young girl to convince those who are watching of the true nature of the North Korea government and its value to society. Out of the Five Great Revolutionary Operas, 3 feature a female protagonist. In each story, the women are shown to be given life changing assistance solely from the advancement of the Communist Party of Korea almost to argue that even those who are believed to hold a low position in society will gain purpose only from the ruling socialist government. This message is very effective in mobilizing a nation of poor and weak individuals towards whole-hearty following the will of the ruling party. Within the Flower Girl, just as the main character is unable to defend herself without the help of the Korean Revolutionary Army and the Korean Communist Party, Korea is just as needy, only able to receive some sort of standing with the Kim regime and socialist principles guiding the nation. These films are used to entertain, but more so they act as another vehicle for the North Korean government to cloud people’s perception of the realities of their society.
Presence at the Olympics
North Korea has attempted to not only curate their image nationally, but internationally as well. One way they have done this is through their presence at the Olympics. In 2018, North Korea drew even more international attention for the presence of a cheerleading squad at the Winter Olympics. This "army of beauties” was composed of around 200 similarly well dressed women tasked with cheering on North Korean competitors. At every game featuring a North Korean athlete or team, they were also in attendance. Average North Korean citizens are not allowed to freely exit the nation, so the only way to showcase how supportive the people are towards their fellow citizens is by bringing a carefully selected group of people to act as cheerful supporters. While other nations have a multitude of people who willingly want to travel and cheer on their teams, the North Korean government has to force young women into adopting an excited attitude and brave faces all in the name of presenting a united nation. These 200 women do not have a choice whether or not they will be present at the Olympics-they will be there. These women were carefully selected by their appearance and loyalty to the party. Participants were required to be all around the same height with attractive faces and a loud, high pitched voice. Girls were scouted from universities within the nation and other all female groups like Moranbong Band. This group performs to international audiences as another way for the North Korean government to exploit women towards convincing others that the North Korean people are unwavering in their support and love for the "fatherland".
North Korean Restaurants Aboard
When it seems like North Korea is so cut off from the rest of the world, it might be surprising to find out that North Korea has a variety of internationally placed state-ran restaurants located all around the world. In total, there are around 130 of these restaurants located in around 12 countries like China, Dubai, Vietnam and Moscow. Walking into an establishment, customers are welcomed with an all female staff and group of girls performing North Korean music while hungry diners eat a variety of traditional North Korean cuisine. Patrons enter curious to the culture and lifestyles found within the hermit kingdom, but are often met with artificial smiles, high prices, fabricated realities, and groups of women taken advantage of by their government. These cafes are seen as an extension of North Korean culture abroad, but they ultimately act as another way for the Kim family to acquire more funding.
These restaurants have two main purposes: to convince the world of the stability of North Korea and to make money for the government. Firstly, the North Korean government understands that many view the nation in a bad light. While many believe the claims that those who are living in North Korea regularly experience human rights abuses, the government is doing its best to sow doubt into these claims. One way to do so is by concentrating international contact with North Korea in isolated instances within these restaurants. If the waitstaff, whom are official North Korean citizens, speak highly of their home, exhibit great talents, provide good meals, and keep a smile on their faces, maybe foreigners will think twice about trusting these claims and instead will speak highly of their experience of interacting with North Koreans. Secondly, these restaurants generate a high number of funds for the Kim dynasty. One report by Daily NK, states that each restaurant sends around $10,000-$30,000 (USD) back to North Korea each month. North Korea is very limited in its ability to trade as they have been severely sanctioned by the United Nations. While trade with China is still reacquiring, North Korea uses these state-run restaurants as a covert way to fund endeavors and acquire foreign currency.
Similar to other groups tasked in promoting the good image of the fatherland, women are chosen to work at these restaurants along strict requirements. While some might jump at the chance of leaving their homes, many women who are chosen to work here have no authority to decline the offer presented to them. Women are chosen based on their appearance, body type and facial features, talents, and most importantly their loyalty to the party. This kind of international employment opens more opportunities for workers to defect into the country they are stationed at. In order to circumvent possible defection attempts, the North Korean government ensures that the women chosen and their families have displayed loyalty to the Kim regime, do not have family members living aboard, and do not have any family members who have defected.
In 2016, South Korea's Unification Ministry announced that a group of 13 defectors arrived in South Korea. What made this case so unique was that the group was composed of 12 females and 1 male who were all employed at a state-run North Korean restaurant within China. Since only those who are considered to be loyal to the Kim regime are chosen to work at these jobs abroad, it is very rare to see a somewhat larger group of employees defect. The male manager shared that he managed to smuggle the women out of China with the help of South Korea's National Intelligence Service and without the women knowing exactly what they were doing/where they were planning to go. Once North Korea had heard about this defection, they accused South Korean intelligence of forcing this group to defect by luring and kidnapping the individuals out of China. Discussions between the leadership of these two nations occurred over the truth of these claims and the possibility of having these workers return to North Korea. So, while there have been a small number of women who have received more opportunities to defect due to their occupation abroad, using this avenue is still extremely risky and a very rare instance of defection.