North Korea’s nuclear and ballistic missile program is probably the most covered topic related to the country, attracting more international attention than almost any other aspect of life in the DPRK.

But studies (especially English-language ones) of the history of negotiations on the program – and recent claims that the country is open to denuclearization – tend to ignore one major aspect of the issue: how it is discussed by DPRK state media.

In other words, what does the government tell North Korean people about its willingness to negotiate its nukes?

EARLY DAYS

The starting point of the DPRK’s nuke