Biting humor: North Korea’s forgotten embrace of satirical cartoons
Magazine Hwalsal once prominently featured social criticism, revealing openness of early DPRK until regime cracked down
A North Korean satirical cartoon from 1958 | Image: Hwalsal, edited by NK News
North Korean media is infamous for not allowing even the slightest criticism of its society.
The country’s journalists are sometimes willing to acknowledge nationwide hardships or problems created by local mismanagement. For example, state media mentions the Arduous March of the late 1990s and reported last year on Kim Jong Un visiting a rice paddy that allegedly flooded due to officials’ mistakes.
North Korean media is infamous for not allowing even the slightest criticism of its society.
The country’s journalists are sometimes willing to acknowledge nationwide hardships or problems created by local mismanagement. For example, state media mentions the Arduous March of the late 1990s and reported last year on Kim Jong Un visiting a rice paddy that allegedly flooded due to officials’ mistakes.
Try unlimited access
Only $1 for four weeks
-
Unlimited access to all of NK News: reporting, investigations,
analysis
-
Year-one discount if you continue past $1 trial period
-
The NK News Daily Update, an email newsletter to keep you in
the loop
-
Searchable archive of all content, photo galleries, special columns
-
Contact NK News reporters with tips or requests for reporting
Get unlimited access to all NK News content, including original reporting,
investigations, and analyses by our team of DPRK experts.
Subscribe
now
All major cards accepted. No commitments – you can cancel any time.
© Korea Risk Group. All rights reserved.
No part of this content may be reproduced, distributed, or used for
commercial purposes without prior written permission from Korea Risk Group.
SHARE
COPY LINK
X
MASTODON
