{"id":38123,"date":"2019-06-07T06:55:00","date_gmt":"2019-06-07T10:55:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/?p=38123"},"modified":"2019-06-07T06:55:00","modified_gmt":"2019-06-07T10:55:00","slug":"the-third-network-investigating-north-koreas-infamous-cable-radio","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2019\/06\/the-third-network-investigating-north-koreas-infamous-cable-radio\/","title":{"rendered":"The Third Network: Investigating North Korea’s infamous cable radio"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/a>

Photo by Chad O’Carroll (@chadocl via Twitter)<\/p><\/div>\n

The NK News<\/a> has published an article about North Korea’s “Third Network”: the infamous cable network radio installed in many homes and that, some report, cannot be turned off.<\/p>\n

This article tries to separate fact from fiction and turns to SWLing Post<\/em> friend, Mark Fahey<\/a>, among other North Korea experts:<\/p>\n

\n

The North Korean radio you can never turn off: fact or fiction?<\/h2>\n

Rumors have persisted for years, but how true they are remains up for debate<\/strong><\/p>\n

Eric Lafforgue discovered the radio in September 2011, on the wall of a farmhouse north of\u00a0Hamhung.<\/p>\n

Although small and austere, with just a speaker and a turquoise dial for volume control, the device stood out for two reasons: firstly, it looked cemented to the wall and secondly, his guide told him that \u201cpeople cannot turn off the system.\u201d<\/p>\n

The French photographer would later\u00a0post<\/a>\u00a0an image of the device on Flickr, where it remains one of the few pieces of photographic evidence of a uniquely North Korean twist on public address systems typical to the region.<\/p>\n

Instead of issuing intermittent earthquake and tsunami warnings, however, this network is alleged to broadcast regime propaganda into citizen\u2019s homes day and night without respite.<\/p>\n

In some ways, the existence of this type of radio would be in keeping with what we know about the North Korean media landscape.<\/p>\n

All television, radio and internet content is strictly censored by the state and suffused with propaganda glorifying the exploits of the state and its economic successes.<\/p>\n

And a walk down the streets of any North Korean city will inevitably bring you into contact with a wide variety of posters exhorting greater personal sacrifice for the regime, praising its achievements or damning its enemies.<\/p>\n

These are vivid displays often accompanied by\u00a0motivational music<\/a>\u00a0and state announcements pumped daily into streets through public loudspeakers.<\/p>\n

Even so, while these manifestations of North Korean propaganda are well-known to even casual observers of the country, visual evidence for the radio system described by Lafforgue remains scant.<\/p>\n

In all his own trips to the DPRK, Mark Fahey has never seen any such device in person, and not for any lack of trying.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve been looking in every single room, in every single building I\u2019ve been in,\u201d Fahey, an expert on North Korean propaganda, tells\u00a0NK News<\/i>.<\/p>\n

Others have been luckier. During filming for the documentary \u201cA State of Mind\u201d<\/a>\u00a0in 2004, footage was captured of a device similar to Lafforgue\u2019s on the wall of a Pyongyang apartment.<\/p>\n

\u201cState radio is piped to every kitchen in the block,\u201d a voiceover explains. \u201cListeners can turn the volume down, but not off.\u201d[…]<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Click here to continue reading the full article at NK News.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The NK News has published an article about North Korea’s “Third Network”: the infamous cable network radio installed in many homes and that, some report, cannot be turned off. This article tries to separate fact from fiction and turns to SWLing Post friend, Mark Fahey, among other North Korea experts: The North Korean radio you […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[3,1850],"tags":[7814,1871,1647,2664,474,6382,7813,4655],"class_list":["post-38123","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news","category-propaganda","tag-cable-radio","tag-dprk","tag-mark-fahey","tag-nk-news","tag-north-korea","tag-north-korea-propaganda","tag-third-network","tag-why-shortwave"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pn3uc-9UT","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":36768,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2019\/04\/an-aircraft-hijacking-story-with-a-shortwave-twist\/","url_meta":{"origin":38123,"position":0},"title":"An aircraft hijacking story with “a shortwave twist”","author":"Thomas","date":"April 3, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Mark Fahey, who writes: [A] great aircraft hijacking story with a shortwave twist.... Read the full article from NK News on the link below--the shortwave twists are here in two interesting paragraphs... \"Two fight attendants from the YS-11 eventually emerged as announcers on the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Articles"","block_context":{"text":"Articles","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/articles\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/KAL-Airlines-News-Clip.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/KAL-Airlines-News-Clip.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/KAL-Airlines-News-Clip.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":27361,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2017\/07\/mark-records-pyongyangs-6-am-wake-up-call\/","url_meta":{"origin":38123,"position":1},"title":"Mark records “Pyongyang\u2019s 6 am wake up call”","author":"Thomas","date":"July 29, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"This week, SWLing Post contributor, Mark Fahey, was featured in the NK News for his research in North Korea. While Mark has made a wide array of his work available through a media-rich (free) iBook, this particular article focuses on the \"Morning Chorus\" heard throughout Pyongyang in the early hours\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/north_korean_propaganda.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/north_korean_propaganda.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/north_korean_propaganda.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/north_korean_propaganda.jpg?resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":24685,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2017\/03\/north-korea-information-gathering-in-the-worlds-most-restrictive-nation\/","url_meta":{"origin":38123,"position":2},"title":"North Korea: Information Gathering in the World’s Most Restrictive Nation","author":"Thomas","date":"March 15, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"If you've been an SWLing Post reader for long, you'll have\u00a0\"met\" him virtually; if you've been in attendance\u00a0the Winter SWL Fest recently, you'll recognize him, may have heard him speak, and perhaps\u00a0even have met him in person. \u00a0I'm speaking, of course, of my good\u00a0friend, Post contributor, and fellow radio listener,\u00a0Mark\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Articles"","block_context":{"text":"Articles","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/articles\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/Behind-The-Curtain-e1489578594707.jpeg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/Behind-The-Curtain-e1489578594707.jpeg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/Behind-The-Curtain-e1489578594707.jpeg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/Behind-The-Curtain-e1489578594707.jpeg?resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":31808,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2018\/04\/propaganda-shift-the-panmunjom-summit-and-monitoring-the-voice-of-korea\/","url_meta":{"origin":38123,"position":3},"title":"Propaganda Shift: The Panmunjom Summit and monitoring the Voice of Korea","author":"Thomas","date":"April 30, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"With North Korea in the global spotlight, I've been making every effort to listen to the Voice of Korea on shortwave.\u00a0 Unfortunately, from here on the east coast of North America, conditions have simply not been in my favor. Fortunately, a couple of\u00a0SWLing Post and SRAA contributors have had my\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/North-Korea-Newspaper.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/North-Korea-Newspaper.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/North-Korea-Newspaper.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":8995,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2014\/03\/could-software-defined-radios-empower-citizen-journalists-in-north-korea\/","url_meta":{"origin":38123,"position":4},"title":"Could software-defined radios empower citizen journalists in North Korea?","author":"Thomas","date":"March 18, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"I was recently interviewed and quoted in an article by\u00a0Ole Jakob Sk\u00e5tun at NK News.\u00a0Sk\u00e5tun is exploring the possibility of using inexpensive SDR dongles\u00a0as a means for citizen journalists to receive and potentially send information across the North Korean border: (Source: NK News) \"While North Korea recently\u00a0ranked\u00a0second-to-last on Reporters Without\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"USB SDRs like the FunCube Dongle Pro could inspire a generation of SDRs that transmit information across the North Korean border.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/RTL-SDR-300x300.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":4797,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2012\/11\/north-korea-updates-transmitters-and-jamming-ability\/","url_meta":{"origin":38123,"position":5},"title":"North Korea updates transmitters and jamming ability","author":"Thomas","date":"November 1, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"(Source: Daily NK) The North Korean authorities are in the process of replacing their existing shortwave radio transmitters, Daily NK has learned. The measure appears designed to both allow better broadcasts targeting South Korea and stop outside shortwave broadcasts entering. According to the Northeast Asian Broadcasting Institute (NABI), the authorities\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Broadcasters"","block_context":{"text":"Broadcasters","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/broadcasters\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/12\/NorthKoreaMap.gif?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/38123","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=38123"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/38123\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=38123"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=38123"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=38123"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}