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N.Korea greatly expands propaganda war on SK`s pres. election

N.Korea greatly expands propaganda war on SK`s pres. election

Posted October. 03, 2012 02:40,   

한국어

North Korea has significantly expanded its intended interference with South Korea’s presidential election compared to five years ago, and is widely using social networking services to target the younger generation in the South.

According to materials submitted by the South Korean Unification Ministry to Rep. Yoon Sang-hyun of the ruling Saenuri Party as part of the parliamentary inspection of the National Assembly Tuesday, North Korean authorities directly mentioned South Korea’s presidential election 767 times, an average of 4.6 times per day, from the April 11 general elections to Sept. 25 through official media, including the daily Rodong Shinmun and (North) Korean Central TV Station. The figure represents a three-fold increase from the period ahead of the 2007 presidential election in South Korea, which the North mentioned about an average of 1.7 times per day.

Pyongyang is proactively using not only its inter-Korean state agencies, including the Committee for Peaceful Unification of the Fatherland, but also social networking services such as YouTube, Twitter and Flicker to target the younger generation in its bid to influence the December election.

Rep. Yoon said, “North Korea will step up efforts to use social networking services and mobilize pro-North forces in the South and supporters living overseas to interfere in South Korea’s presidential election in the coming months,” adding, “The South Korean government must thoroughly prepare itself on how to cope with the North’s propaganda war.”



will71@donga.com