The trouble with comparing North Korea’s chief propagandist to Joseph Goebbels



Opinion The trouble with comparing North Korea’s chief propagandist to Joseph Goebbels Likening Kim Ki Nam to Nazi politician ignores how much more centralized DPRK is than Germany under National Socialism Fyodor Tertitskiy May 10, 2024 SHARE COPY LINK FACEBOOK X LINKEDIN MASTODON Kim Ki Nam's obituary from the front page of the Rodong Sinmun and KCNA \| Image: Rodong Sinmun, KCNA (May 8, 2024) edited by NK News Kim Ki Nam, the former chief of North Korea’s propaganda apparatus, died on May 7. Although some media outlets were quick to compare Kim’s six-decade career to Joseph Goebbels's impact on Nazi Germany, Kim’s trajectory and influence in the DPRK is far more complex. His first big role was as a charge d’affaires in China back in 1957, just when Kim Il Sung was consolidating power by wiping out opposition and distancing North Korea from Soviet influence. Kim Ki Nam, the former chief of North Korea’s propaganda apparatus, died on May 7. Although some media outlets were quick to compare Kim’s six-decade career to Joseph Goebbels's impact on Nazi Germany, Kim’s trajectory and influence in the DPRK is far more complex. His first big role was as a charge d’affaires in China back in 1957, just when Kim Il Sung was consolidating power by wiping out opposition and distancing North Korea from Soviet influence. 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. Get the Daily Update Start your day with the North Korea stories that matter most – as selected by And how should we address you in correspondence? One more step! Please check your inbox, for an email we just sent you, and click on the confirmation message in it to get subscribed to our Daily News Update. Trending

Opinion

The trouble with comparing North Korea’s chief propagandist to Joseph Goebbels

Likening Kim Ki Nam to Nazi politician ignores how much more centralized DPRK is than Germany under National Socialism

Fyodor Tertitskiy May 10, 2024

The trouble with comparing North Korea’s chief propagandist to Joseph Goebbels

Kim Ki Nam's obituary from the front page of the Rodong Sinmun and KCNA | Image: Rodong Sinmun, KCNA (May 8, 2024) edited by NK News

Kim Ki Nam, the former chief of North Korea’s propaganda apparatus, died on May 7. Although some media outlets were quick to compare Kim’s six-decade career to Joseph Goebbels's impact on Nazi Germany, Kim’s trajectory and influence in the DPRK is far more complex.

His first big role was as a charge d’affaires in China back in 1957, just when Kim Il Sung was consolidating power by wiping out opposition and distancing North Korea from Soviet influence.

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.

The trouble with comparing North Korea’s chief propagandist to Joseph Goebbels

Try unlimited accessOnly $1 for four weeks

Start your day with the North Korea stories that matter most –

as selected by

One more step!

Trending

Recent Stories

About the Author

Fyodor Tertitskiy

Try unlimited access
Only $1 for four weeks

Start your day with
the North Korea stories that matter most –