North Korea hiding rights abuses by information blockade, says US envoy
The United States is working to end the "information blockade" of North Korea that Pyongyang used to hide its rights abuses and keep its citizens ignorant about the world outside, a top diplomat said Thursday.
Robert King, a high ranking US diplomat and human rights envoy in North Korea, said ending media curbs in the communist-ruled country was a fundamental part of reforms there that America would encourage.
"I still believe that the power of broadcasting can make a difference in breaking down the information blockade that's key to positive change in North Korea," King said at a forum in Seoul.
King visited North Korea last year and said he had raised US worries about rights abuses with government officials.
He vowed that the US government would continue to broadcast news and other information into North Korea that is virtually cut off from the outside world due to lack of Internet access and severe cell phone usage restrictions.
"In this era of virtually instantaneous global information, North Korea remains the most extreme example of isolation," he said, adding Pyongyang was controlling "what's flowing into, within and out of North Korea".
He cited a recent US State Department report and pointed out that North Korea had banned all radios and televisions that are able to pick up non-state-controlled stations.
It has also made attempts to block foreign news broadcasts, including those by the United States and South Korea.
But King said there are signs that the isolated government in Pyongyang may be losing its tight grip on information.
Source: United States News.Net
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