Piranhas, purges and porn: The worst rumors of Kim Jong Un’s decade in power | NK News



Analysis Piranhas, purges and porn: The worst rumors of Kim Jong Un’s decade in power Hearsay and misinformation on North Korea routinely circulates as news, warping perception of the country Jeongmin Kim December 31, 2021 SHARE COPY LINK FACEBOOK X LINKEDIN MASTODON KCNA \| Jang Song Thaek, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's uncle, is arrested before his execution Kim Jong Un in a coma. A general fed to flesh-eating fish. The imminent collapse of the regime. Media organizations often exoticize and sensationalize North Korea, and in the absence of solid information, rumors about the isolated state multiply. Spread through social media and amplified by pundits, politicians and news outlets, these tall tales can quickly spiral out of control, warping popular understanding of the country and even influencing foreign policy toward Pyongyang. Kim Jong Un in a coma. A general fed to flesh-eating fish. The imminent collapse of the regime. Media organizations often exoticize and sensationalize North Korea, and in the absence of solid information, rumors about the isolated state multiply. Spread through social media and amplified by pundits, politicians and news outlets, these tall tales can quickly spiral out of control, warping popular understanding of the country and even influencing foreign policy toward Pyongyang. Become a member for less than $5.75 per week. Unlimited access to all of NK News: reporting, investigations, analysis 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

About the Author

Jeongmin Kim

Jeongmin Kim is the Lead Correspondent at NK News and Editorial Director at KOREA PRO, based in Seoul. Kim covers inter-Korean relations and North and South Korean foreign and military affairs. Kim has covered the 2022 ROK presidential election on the ground, and prior to joining NK News, she worked for the CSIS Korea Chair in Washington D.C. and Reuters news agency’s Seoul bureau.

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