Covert Television Transmission to North Korea through VOA's Unknown Project Ceases Operation.
The shutdown of the Voice of America (VOA) and Radio Free Asia (RFA) has raised concerns about unilateral disarmament in the global information war. This decision, another casualty of an administration that has undermined its strategic position through short-sighted and impulsive actions, has left many questioning the commitment of the United States to promoting freedom of information.
Recent surveys revealed that approximately 5% of defectors and "travelers" outside North Korea listened regularly to VOA, and 7.5% listened to RFA. These figures underscore the importance of these broadcasting entities in providing alternative news sources to North Koreans, who often face severe restrictions on access to independent information.
The loss of VOA and RFA may be perceived by North Korean listeners as a message that the US does not care about their plight. This perception could potentially fuel propaganda from national security rivals that the US has abandoned its commitment to promoting democracy and human rights.
In South Korea, the role of VOA and RFA is a topic of significant public debate. The South Korean government resumed military activities and propaganda campaigns along the border with North Korea after suspending the 2018 inter-Korean military agreement due to rising tensions caused by North Korean balloon launches carrying debris to the South.
Michael Abramowitz, the director of VOA, emphasised the need for the US to maintain the ability to talk directly to people living in unfree societies and combat propaganda from national security rivals with truthful information. He also highlighted the potential for improvement in VOA, including possible consolidation, more efficient audience research, and a review of editorial standards.
At the time of the VOA Korean Service closure, the South Korean government agreed to allow VOA to use state-controlled broadcast towers along the border to send a TV signal deep into North Korea. This agreement, made in January 2023, represented a significant step towards bridging the information gap between North and South Korea.
Television is the most popular medium in North Korea, but measuring the reach of news services can be challenging. Despite the shutdown, RFA is now producing only online coverage, and the future administration with a different view will be tasked with rebuilding VOA, possibly from scratch.
Notably, the effort to bring television from the United States into North Korea was a breakthrough and had not been made public until now. This covert operation, aimed at sending a message to North Koreans that "you're not alone in the world," was a testament to the resilience of the US in its pursuit of promoting freedom of information.
Legal battles continue regarding the shutdown, and there was a surge in hope when employees of the Persian service were briefly called back to work to broadcast into Iran. However, the fate of VOA and RFA's Korean services remains uncertain, leaving many to wonder about the future of independent news in North Korea.
Roberta Cohen, a former US human rights official and expert on North Korea, underscored the importance of America's broadcasting efforts, stating that one of the most important functions of these entities was to send a message to North Koreans that they are not alone in the world. As the global information landscape continues to evolve, it is crucial that the US maintains its commitment to promoting freedom of information and combating propaganda with truthful, unbiased news.
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