A foreign media failure? Evaluating 10 years of the AP bureau in Pyongyang



Analysis A foreign media failure? Evaluating 10 years of the AP bureau in Pyongyang Journalists and experts say access has worsened, but most insist that on-the-ground reporting remains valuable Chad O'Carroll January 4, 2022 SHARE COPY LINK FACEBOOK X LINKEDIN MASTODON Eric Lafforgue (Sept. 2008) \| A North Korean man refusing to have his picture taken in Nampho In Jan. 2012, the Associated Press announced the opening of the first full U.S. news bureau in Pyongyang, assuring readers from the outset that the office would operate “under the same standards and practices as AP bureaus worldwide.” Despite skepticism about whether the bureau could practice independent journalism, the opening nevertheless marked the beginning of an era of improved international media access to the DPRK. In addition to AP, CNN reporting trips into North Korea spiked significantly in the early years of Kim Jong Un, with anchor Will Ripley visiting 19 times. Then Agence France Press launched a bureau in 2016, followed by Cuba’s Prensa Latina in 2018. And mass media tours enabled scores of journalists from international news outlets — including NK News — to attend parades and political anniversaries with increasing frequency. In Jan. 2012, the Associated Press announced the opening of the first full U.S. news bureau in Pyongyang, assuring readers from the outset that the office would operate “under the same standards and practices as AP bureaus worldwide.” Despite skepticism about whether the bureau could practice independent journalism, the opening nevertheless marked the beginning of an era of improved international media access to the DPRK. In addition to AP, CNN reporting trips into North Korea spiked significantly in the early years of Kim Jong Un, with anchor Will Ripley visiting 19 times. Then Agence France Press launched a bureau in 2016, followed by Cuba’s Prensa Latina in 2018. And mass media tours enabled scores of journalists from international news outlets — including NK News — to attend parades and political anniversaries with increasing frequency. 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

Analysis

A foreign media failure? Evaluating 10 years of the AP bureau in Pyongyang

Journalists and experts say access has worsened, but most insist that on-the-ground reporting remains valuable

Chad O'Carroll January 4, 2022

A foreign media failure? Evaluating 10 years of the AP bureau in Pyongyang

Eric Lafforgue (Sept. 2008) | A North Korean man refusing to have his picture taken in Nampho

In Jan. 2012, the Associated Press announced the opening of the first full U.S. news bureau in Pyongyang, assuring readers from the outset that the office would operate “under the same standards and practices as AP bureaus worldwide.”

Despite skepticism about whether the bureau could practice independent journalism, the opening nevertheless marked the beginning of an era of improved international media access to the DPRK. In addition to AP, CNN reporting trips into North Korea spiked significantly in the early years of Kim Jong Un, with anchor Will Ripley visiting 19 times. Then Agence France Press launched a bureau in 2016, followed by Cuba’s Prensa Latina in 2018. And mass media tours enabled scores of journalists from international news outlets — including NK News — to attend parades and political anniversaries with increasing frequency.