NK steps up SNS use for propaganda

By Kim Young-jin

"Gangnam Style" went viral on YouTube, earning South Korean rapper Psy instant global fame and fortune.

The same Google social networking platform is used by North Korea to spread its propaganda and a video depicting a missile attack on America is demonstrating the regime's growing use of the Internet for saber-rattling. Of course, it has not gotten anywhere near the level of Psy's popularity.

Uploaded onto the YouTube channel of the North-affiliated propaganda website, Uriminzokkiri, Saturday, the video depicts a man dreaming of flying into space in a North Korean rocket. Missiles rain down on the United States while a piano rendition of the charity song "We Are the World" is played.

The video reflects ongoing tension over Pyongyang's widely expected third nuclear test, but observers say it also points to efforts by the North to harness social media, and the difficulties facing Seoul in clamping down on such information.

"North Korea uses all means possible to spread its propaganda," a government official said, asking not to be named. "This is just another channel for them to do that."

Parts of the video came from the video game, "Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3.'' The U.S. game company Activision filed a copyright claim with YouTube, resulting in the removal of the video after it garnered over 460,000 views, according to website North Korea Tech.

It remained viewable in the South as it was picked up by another website, LiveLeak.

In the video, the man travels in a space vehicle propelled by a rocket called the "Unha-9." Pyongyang in December successfully launched its multistage Unha-3, raising concerns that it was advancing toward long-range nuclear weapons capabilities.

"I see black smoke rising someplace in America," the man says, adding that Washington is to blame for the attack.

The official said South Koreans are technically banned from direct access to North Korean websites and from spreading the propaganda under the National Security Law. But with the growing number of online mediums, it is difficult to monitor such activity, the official added.

The number of YouTube channels carrying North Korean material — some with links to the regime — has climbed in recent years, and the regime has also opened up a Twitter account.

Some YouTube channels show virulent propaganda such as a video showing a "North Korean PC game against South Korean President Lee Myung-bak."

Korea Institute for National Unification analyst Park Young-ho said Pyongyang is in the midst of a media blitz to raise tension on the peninsula. But he predicted the increasing accessibility wouldn't garner much interest in the South.

"Those with an interest in the North can look at the videos for the latest trends there. But this is not likely to interest the casual Internet user here," he said.

yjk@ktimes.co.kr,