North Korean man who smuggled 'Squid Game' into the country is to be executed by firing squad and a

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

high-school student who bought a USB drive with the show will be jailed for life, report says

North Korea appears to have come down hard on people who distribute or watch Netflix's hit show "Squid Game."

A report by Radio Free Asia cited unnamed sources inside North Korea as saying a man who smuggled and sold the dystopian drama had been sentenced to death by firing squad and a high schooler who bought a USB drive containing the show was sentenced to life in prison.

Another six high schoolers who watched the show were said to be sentenced to five years of hard labor, RFA reported. Their supervisors were also said to be punished, with teachers and school administrators fired, possibly to be banished to work in remote mines, RFA said.

RFA is a US government-funded nonprofit news service that serves audiences in Asia. It says its aim is to "provide accurate and timely news and information to Asian countries whose governments prohibit access to a free press."

https://www.yahoo.com/news/north-korean-man-smuggled-squid-040042958.html

And Trump fell in love with the leader of this country.

[soryang]

1. according to RFA Kim Jong-un died

remember it's a psychological warfare organization not a news source. Guess somebody doesn't like the ongoing US-South Korean talks about an end of war declaration.

[Throck]

3. Trump fell in love with Kim?

He antagonized the shit out of him and damn near caused a nuclear war.

[EndlessWire]

16. Yeah, he did

He declared that Kim wrote him love letters--depends on your point of view--and he said flattering things about Kim. Now, didn't he meet up with Kim, salute one of Kim's generals, and generally say nice, flattering things about Kim? tRump wanted to win the Nobel Peace Prize for that performance. So, yeah, a bromance was born, and neither came out of the break up intact.

[KentuckyWoman]

19. He's got Rocketman on his office wall right now.

That pick with Rittenhouse has what looks to be a 24 x 36 pic of them shaking hands.

[greenjar_01]

4. RFA writers really sit around in a room coming up with this nonsense

Remote mines! High schoolers!

So silly.

[EX500rider]

5. Are you serious? All that and worse happens in the Hermit Kingdom

https://www.hrw.org/asia/north-korea#

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prisons_in_North_Korea

https://www.npr.org/2021/02/26/971672936/north-koreas-network-of-prison-camps-funds-weapons-programs-rights-group-says

[egduj]

6. Isn't the RFA the CIA version of Tokyo Rose?

[EX500rider]

7. No

Radio Free Asia has received several awards for its journalism, including:

2005: International Activist Award, Gleitsman Foundation.[60]
2008: Consumer Rights award. Hong Kong Consumer Council, Hong Kong Journalists Association.[61]
2010 and 2020: The International Women's Media Foundation's Courage in Journalism Award.[62][63]
Edward R. Murrow National Award, 2019. Radio-Television News Directors Association.[64]
min magazine's "Best of the Web", 2017 for "Best Multimedia Feature".[65]
Sigma Delta Chi award, 2014. The Society of Professional Journalists.[66]
Annual Human Rights Press Award, 2012, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, and 2000. Amnesty International, Hong Kong Journalists Association, Foreign Correspondents' Club, Hong Kong.
Edward R. Murrow Regional Award, 2013, 2005, 2003, 2002, and 2001. Radio-Television News Directors Association.
New York Festivals Radio Awards named Radio Free Asia "Broadcaster of the Year" in 2009. RFA won two medals in 2019, one in 2015; one in 2014; two in 2013; one in 2012; one in 2011; two in 2010; seven in 2009; two in 2008; one in 2007; one in 2004; and one in 2000. RFA also won medals at the New York Festivals TV and Film Awards in 2018 and 2019.[67]
Gracie Allen Award, 2013, 2010, and 2008. American Women in Radio and Television.[68]
The U.S. Broadcasting Board of Governors' David Burke Distinguished Journalism Award, 2010.[69]
Society of Environmental Journalists's First Prize for Outstanding Online Reporting on the Environment for RFA's 2010 multimedia series "The Last Untamed River."[70]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radio_Free_Asia

[soryang]

8. It's the first time?

Story is remarkably similar to a May 2021 story that appeared in Daily NK (another propaganda operation by defectors). That was the first time 6 students got 5 year sentences. In April Daily NK had reported that a video importer was executed. the importer was allegedly executed. Saying it was the first time in the OP is inconsistent with the earlier report, if you take these things at face value. Maybe this is why the RFA report about squid game isn't even reported there. So take an older effort that didn't get much traction except among the North Korean watchers community and leverage it with the squid name brand to get a wide audience. Voila!

However, a cadre from Nampo’s Ministry of Social Security stayed behind after the trial to make a statement to the students and their parents who were gathered in the audience.

“The era of trying 16-year-olds as youths has ended,” he reportedly yelled out. “From now on, if you watch video materials from South Korea, you will not be forgiven, regardless of who you are, your gender, or how old you are.”

Six students in Nampo sent to reeducation camp for watching South Korean dramas and movies May 18, 2021
https://www.dailynk.com/english/six-students-nampo-sent-reeducation-camp-watching-south-korean-dramas-movies/

Squid Game was released Sep 21 according to wikipedia. According to 38North

The last execution related to South Korean media documented by the Transitional Justice Working Group, for instance, was in 2013/2014, according to its 2019 report.

But since the new law has been announced, executions related to South Korean media are reportedly occurring once again. Daily NK reported a Wonsan man was executed in April for selling CDs and USBs with South Korean content, and four in Pyongyang were executed in March for selling and distributing South Korean material. It also reported that six students in Nampho were sentenced to five years in a reeducation camp for watching South Korean movies.

https://www.38north.org/2021/11/north-korea-intensifies-war-against-foreign-influence/

Neither RFA nor dailynk are reliable sources, but with the "squid game cachet" the story has new wheels.

[EX500rider]

9. Yes, poor North Korea is just misunderstood I suppose?

North Korea remains among the world’s most repressive countries. Kim Jong Un’s government sharply curtails freedom of expression, religion, and conscience, peaceful assembly, and association. It prohibits political opposition, independent media, NGOs, and trade unions. A 2014 UN Commission of Inquiry found that the government committed violations amounting to crimes against humanity, including extermination, murder, enslavement, torture, rape, and forced abortions. North Korea operates secret prison camps where presumed government opponents face torture, forced labor, and starvation.

https://www.hrw.org/asia/north-korea

[soryang]

10. Neverthless

...the story is an obvious resurrection of an older story that didn't fly. Tim Shorrock an expert on Korean Affairs and US intelligence operations thinks it's fabrication too.

Link to tweet

The fact that they said it's the "first time" and the sentences are identical for the participants is a tell. They aren't even creative. It's not journalism it's intelligence work.

[EX500rider]

11. And what are his journalism awards?

Radio Free Asia has received many awards for its journalism, including:

2005: International Activist Award, Gleitsman Foundation.[60]
2008: Consumer Rights award. Hong Kong Consumer Council, Hong Kong Journalists Association.[61]
2010 and 2020: The International Women's Media Foundation's Courage in Journalism Award.[62][63]
Edward R. Murrow National Award, 2019. Radio-Television News Directors Association.[64]
min magazine's "Best of the Web", 2017 for "Best Multimedia Feature".[65]
Sigma Delta Chi award, 2014. The Society of Professional Journalists.[66]
Annual Human Rights Press Award, 2012, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, and 2000. Amnesty International, Hong Kong Journalists Association, Foreign Correspondents' Club, Hong Kong.
Edward R. Murrow Regional Award, 2013, 2005, 2003, 2002, and 2001. Radio-Television News Directors Association.
New York Festivals Radio Awards named Radio Free Asia "Broadcaster of the Year" in 2009. RFA won two medals in 2019, one in 2015; one in 2014; two in 2013; one in 2012; one in 2011; two in 2010; seven in 2009; two in 2008; one in 2007; one in 2004; and one in 2000. RFA also won medals at the New York Festivals TV and Film Awards in 2018 and 2019.[67]
Gracie Allen Award, 2013, 2010, and 2008. American Women in Radio and Television.[68]
The U.S. Broadcasting Board of Governors' David Burke Distinguished Journalism Award, 2010.[69]
Society of Environmental Journalists's First Prize for Outstanding Online Reporting on the Environment for RFA's 2010 multimedia series "The Last Untamed River."[70]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radio_Free_Asia

[soryang]

12. LOL

comparing an internationally known political writer to a government agency.

[EX500rider]

17. Got ya, no awards.

I'll trust Annual Human Rights Press Award and Amnesty International over anonymous internet poster's opinion, esp one who takes China & N Korea's side every time.

[leftstreet]

18. Didn't RFA once report Kim Jong Un was dead?

I don't think anyone takes them seriously

[soryang]

13. Experts doubt that 'Squid Game' has been smuggled into North Korea

Experts doubt that ‘Squid Game’ has been smuggled into North Korea
‘Logically and conceptually impossible’ that show reached North Korea amid COVID-19 controls and foreign media crackdown
Chad O’Carroll November 25, 2021

https://www.nknews.org/2021/11/experts-doubt-that-squid-game-has-been-smuggled-into-north-korea/

A joint analysis by NK Pro and the London-based Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) showed in July that vessels sailing to North Korea have had to wait outside Nampho port for approximately two months as part of the inbound goods disinfection process.

This makes it highly unlikely that “Squid Game,” which debuted Sept. 17, has had time to reach North Korean soil and disseminate there.

NK News is the most authoritative site on North Korean affairs. it's the website used by people who want the best info and analysis.

[Monohull]

14. I've always thought that the best way to deal with NK

is to air drop pallets of 1st world things into NK daily.
Nikes, nice clothes , Satellite smart phones, high end food etc.
Let the NK population get a taste of the good life. And, they would take care of their leadership problem themselves.

IMHO.

[ProfessorGAC]

15. In Other Words...

...they're all going to die.
They go to prison & never return.