As a closed country, no information gets into North Korea (DPRK) easily but at the same time very little gets out. The UN’s recently released human rights report compiled from interviews with hundreds of North Korean escapees is a rare and deep insight into the state of the country.

The following is a selection of excerpts from the UN report showing not only the fear and danger in North Korea, but also the total and overwhelming control that the ruling dynasty has over the down trodden masses.

In today’s section we look at the way in which the regime controls media and information with an iron fist. It shows how they manage to keep millions of people almost totally in the dark and in fear of their lives. There is literally no escape from the mass brain washing. Whether you’re on a train, listening to your radio or walking down the street, someone will be barking ideology at you.

Radio

DPRK nationals receive information from the state through “fixed line” broadcasting. The fixed line system operates through the use of speakers in every single DPRK household. These speakers are checked regularly by officials to make sure they’re still fully functioning. If you’re caught with the speaker set too low or off you will be reprimanded.

Radios inside cars and automobiles are removed before ordinary DPRK citizens can buy them. DPRK citizens are allowed to own cassette recorders which are normally produced abroad and come with a built-in radio; the “Communication Maintenance Bureau” and Ministry of People’s Security (MPS) is responsible for removing all of the radio components of the cassette recorder before it can be used by the public.

Officials carry out surprise inspection visits to private households in order to investigate whether people have manipulated their state-approved radios/recorders and televisions or secretly acquired equipment smuggled from China, in order to receive foreign broadcasts.

☛ Catch Up: Inside North Korea: Unbelievable Excerpts From UN Report #1