AP expands North Korean coverage, opens first full news bureau by international agency
Source: The Washington Post / AP
PYONGYANG, North Korea The Associated Press opened its newest bureau here Monday, becoming the first international news organization with a full-time presence to cover news from North Korea in words, pictures and video.
In a ceremony that came less than a month after the death of longtime ruler Kim Jong Il and capped nearly a year of discussions, AP President and CEO Tom Curley and a delegation of top AP editors inaugurated the office, situated inside the headquarters of the state-run Korean Central News Agency in downtown Pyongyang.
The bureau expands the APs presence in North Korea, building on the breakthrough in 2006 when AP opened a video bureau in Pyongyang for the first time by an international news organization. Exclusive video from AP video staffers in Pyongyang was used by media outlets around the world following Kims death.
Now, AP writers and photojournalists will also be allowed to work in North Korea on a regular basis.
Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia-pacific/ap-expands-north-korean-coverage-opens-first-full-news-bureau-by-international-agency/2012/01/15/gIQALJ2w1P_story.html
jberryhill
(62,444 posts)"situated inside the headquarters of the state-run Korean Central News Agency"
Although its pretty amazing they could even get a desk inside there.
Little Tich
(6,171 posts)It's like a peep-hole in a brick wall. Now we can see more of what is actually going on in North-Korea, (or the DPRK as they call themselves) especially now with the leadership change. Hopefully, AP will be able to report with at least some amount of freedom, but I doubt that much of it will be available for local consumption.
For comparison, this is what we currently have for information about North-Korea: http://www.korea-dpr.com/
jberryhill
(62,444 posts)It can safely be assumed that the AP "in country staff" isn't going to be able to get up to take a pee alone.
It'll be like being on one of those guided tours forever. All of their neighbors, and everyone they come into contact with will be like a big Truman Show.
izquierdista
(11,689 posts)everything will be fine. Working for the Bush White House press corps would be excellent preparation for this job.
nadinbrzezinski
(154,021 posts)the country up
Lasher
(27,502 posts)I hope so. We'll see.