South Korea’s unification ministry announced that North Korea has shifted its official TV broadcasts from a Chinese satellite to a Russian one, complicating monitoring efforts for South Korean agencies and media.
A South Korean satellite dish service provider confirmed that signals from North Korea’s Korean Central Television began broadcasting via the Russian satellite Express 103 on June 29, instead of the ChinaSat 12 satellite. Due to the sensitivity of the issue, the service provider requested anonymity.
This change follows a visit by Russian President Vladimir Putin to North Korea in June, where he signed an agreement with Kim Jong Un to strengthen bilateral relations and enhance defense cooperation.
While North Korean TV remains accessible online, the quality may be poor or delayed. Despite its highly politicized and staged content, North Korean state media is monitored by South Korean government agencies and media as it provides rare insights into the isolated state.
The South Korean public is not allowed access to North Korean media, and authorized organizations must use satellite services to view North Korean broadcasts. Since Monday morning, Reuters has been unable to receive North Korean TV broadcasts.
China has avoided any trilateral agreements that could jeopardize its international relationships, while North Korea and Russia have made bold moves to strengthen their ties and challenge the Western bloc, led by the United States.
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