Rodong Sinmun

{{Short description|Official newspaper of North Korea}}

{{Distinguish|Rodongja Sinmun}}

{{Infobox newspaper

| name = Rodong Sinmun

| logo = Rodong Sinmun.png

| image = Rodong sinmun frontpage.jpg

| image_size = 240

| caption = Front page on 12 November 2011

| type = Daily newspaper

| format = Broadsheet

| foundation = 1945

| owners = Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea

| publisher = Rodong News Agency

| chiefeditor = Kim Pyong-ho

| publishing_country = North Korea

| circulation = 600,000

| circulation_date = 2015

| circulation_ref = {{Cite web | title = North Korea Ramps Up Circulation of National Daily | author1 = Sung-hui Moon | author2 = Yunju Kim | author3 = Roseanne Gerin | agency = Radio Free Asia | date = 2015-04-27 | access-date = 2015-04-28 | url = http://www.rfa.org/english/news/korea/north-korea-ramps-up-circulation-of-national-daily-04272015155756.html | archive-date = 2023-09-16 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230916232546/https://www.rfa.org/english/news/korea/north-korea-ramps-up-circulation-of-national-daily-04272015155756.html/ | url-status = live }}

| political = Workers' Party of Korea

| headquarters = Pyongyang, North Korea

| website = {{official URL}}

}}

{{Infobox Korean name

|title=Rodong Sinmun

|context=north

|hangul=로동신문

|hanja=勞動新聞

|rr=Rodong Sinmun

|mr=Rodong Sinmun

}}

File:Laika ac Rodong Shinmun Office (12196828873).jpg]]

Rodong Sinmun ({{IPA|ko|ɾo.doŋ ɕin.mun|IPA}}; {{Korean|hangul=로동신문|lit=labor news|context=north}}) is a North Korean official newspaper of record{{Cite journal |last=Em |first=Pavel P. |last2=Ward |first2=Peter |date=2021-01-01 |title=City profile: Is Pyongyang a post-socialist city? |url=https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0264275120312981 |journal=Cities |volume=108 |pages=102950 |doi=10.1016/j.cities.2020.102950 |issn=0264-2751|url-access=subscription }} of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea. It was first published on 1 November 1945, as Chŏngro ({{korean|hangul=정로|hanja=正路|context=north|lit=correct path}}), serving as a communication channel for the North Korea Bureau of the Communist Party of Korea; it was renamed in September 1946. Quoted frequently by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) and international media, it is regarded as a source of official North Korean viewpoints on many issues.

An English-language version of Rodong Sinmun was launched in January 2012.{{cite news | first = Young-jin | last = Kim | title = NK's main paper launches English website | date = 2012-01-11 | url = https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2012/01/116_102681.html | work=The Korea Times | access-date = 2012-01-11 | archive-date = 2019-07-26 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190726183525/http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2012/01/116_102681.html | url-status = live }}

The editor-in-chief is Kim Pyong-ho.{{Cite web |title=2nd Plenary Session of the 7th WPK Central Committee Held |work=North Korea Leadership Watch |date=8 October 2017 |access-date=24 January 2019 |url=http://www.nkleadershipwatch.org/2017/10/08/2nd-plenary-session-of-the-7th-wpk-central-committee-held/ |archive-date=26 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190726183530/http://www.nkleadershipwatch.org/2017/10/08/2nd-plenary-session-of-the-7th-wpk-central-committee-held/ |url-status=live }} A list of articles published in Rodong Sinmun since 1946 is available online on the websites of the Information Center on North Korea (unibook.unikorea.go.kr) and the North Korea information portal (nkinfo.unikorea.go.kr).{{Cite web|url= https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20210514005300325|title= Article lists of Rodong Sinmun available online: ministry|work=Yonhap News Agency|date= May 14, 2021|access-date= May 14, 2021|archive-date= May 14, 2021|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210514165656/https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20210514005300325|url-status= live}}

Contents

Rodong Sinmun is published every day of the year and usually contains six pages.Holloway, Andrew (2003). [http://www.aidanfc.net/a_year_in_pyongyang_4.html A Year in Pyongyang] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090405114508/http://www.aidanfc.net/a_year_in_pyongyang_4.html |date=2009-04-05 }}. Aidan Foster-Carter. Honorary Senior Research Fellow in Sociology and Modern Korea, Leeds University.

Following the purge and execution of Jang Song-thaek, Rodong Sinmun deleted some 20,000 articles from its web archives,{{Cite web | title = Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) Deletes Online Archive Of News After Execution Of Jang Song Thaek | last = Florcruz | first = Michelle | work = International Business Times | date = 16 December 2013 | access-date = 23 July 2017 | url = http://www.ibtimes.com/korean-central-news-agency-kcna-deletes-online-archive-news-after-execution-jang-song-thaek-1510758 | archive-date = 7 September 2017 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170907170430/http://www.ibtimes.com/korean-central-news-agency-kcna-deletes-online-archive-news-after-execution-jang-song-thaek-1510758 | url-status = live }} while others were edited to omit his name.{{Cite web | title = On Reading North Korean Media: The Curse of the Web | last = Weiser | first = Martin | work = Sino-NK | date = 31 October 2016 | access-date = 23 July 2017 | url = http://sinonk.com/2016/10/31/on-reading-north-korean-media-the-curse-of-the-web/ | archive-date = 7 September 2017 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170907170426/http://sinonk.com/2016/10/31/on-reading-north-korean-media-the-curse-of-the-web/ | url-status = live }}

Rodong Sinmun content can be accessed over the Mirae WiFi network in North Korea.{{cite news |url=https://www.nknews.org/2018/11/smartphone-capable-wifi-on-show-at-pyongyang-it-exhibition-state-tv-reveals/ |work=NK News |quote=North Korean ruling party organ the Rodong Sinmun can be accessed through the network, the report added, as can online-shopping outlet Manmulsang, video-on-demand service Manbang, Mokran video, the Sci-Tech Complex website, and Yeolpung. |editor-first=Oliver |editor-last=Hotham |title=Smartphone-capable WiFi on show at Pyongyang IT exhibition, state TV reveals |first=Dagyum |last=Ji |date=November 14, 2018 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20181114162817/https://www.nknews.org/2018/11/smartphone-capable-wifi-on-show-at-pyongyang-it-exhibition-state-tv-reveals/ |archive-date=November 14, 2018}}

=New Year editorials=

Since 1996, Rodong Sinmun, the Korean Central News Agency, Minju Joson, and Joson Inmingun has published a joint New Year editorial that outlines the country's policies for the year.{{cite web|url=http://www.kcna.co.jp/item/2006/200601/news01/02.htm |title=Joint New Year Editorial Issued |date=January 1, 2006 |publisher=Korean Central News Agency |access-date=2013-12-16 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130524082616/http://www.kcna.co.jp/item/2006/200601/news01/02.htm |archive-date=May 24, 2013 }}{{cite web| url= https://www.bloomberg.com/news/print/2011-01-01/north-korea-in-new-year-message-says-regional-tensions-should-be-defused.html| title= North Korea, in New Year Message, Says Regional Tensions Should Be Defused| date= January 1, 2011| publisher= Bloomberg News| access-date= 2013-12-16| author= Paul Tighe and Jungmin Hong| quote= 'The danger of war should be removed and peace safeguarded in the Korean Peninsula,' the state-run Korean Central News Agency reported, citing a New Year editorial carried by newspapers including Rodong Sinmun and Joson Inmingun.| archive-date= 2013-12-29| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20131229060744/http://www.bloomberg.com/news/print/2011-01-01/north-korea-in-new-year-message-says-regional-tensions-should-be-defused.html| url-status= live}} The editorials usually offer praise for the Songun policy, the government and leadership, and encourage the growth of the nation. They are also critical of the policies of South Korea, Japan, the United States, Israel and Western governments towards North Korea and/or its allies.[https://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSTRE5000E620090101?feedType=RSS&feedName=worldNews&pageNumber=2&virtualBrandChannel=10112 North Korea issues New Year denuclearization pledge] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090413182818/http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSTRE5000E620090101?feedType=RSS&feedName=worldNews&pageNumber=2&virtualBrandChannel=10112 |date=2009-04-13 }}. Reuters. December 31, 2008.[https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2009/01/113_37114.html N. Korea Vows to Rebuild Economy in New Year Message], The Korea Times, January 1, 2009.{{cite web |script-title=ko:미국과 이스라엘에 경고 |url=http://rodong.rep.kp/ko/index.php?MTJAMjAyNC0xMS0wNS1OMDIzQDE1QDJAQDBAMjM== |website=Rodong Sinmun |access-date=4 November 2024}}

On 1 January 2006, the agency sent out a joint-editorial from North Korea's state newspapers calling for the withdrawal of American forces from South Korea. While annual 1 January editorials are a tradition among the papers, that year's brought attention from Western media outlets, by calling for a "nationwide campaign for driving out the U.S. troops".[http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,180301,00.html "North Korea Demands U.S. Troop Withdrawal"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070310202147/http://www.foxnews.com/story/0%2C2933%2C180301%2C00.html |date=2007-03-10 }}. Fox News. December 31, 2005. The editorial made several references to Korean reunification. The 2009 editorial received similar attention, as criticism of United States policy was absent, and the admission of severe economic problems in North Korea. The editorial also made reference to denuclearisation on the Korean Peninsula, in what analysts claimed was a "hopeful" sign.[http://www.kcna.co.jp/item/2009/200901/news01/20090101-02ee.html 2009 Joint New Year Editorial Issued] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090325033325/http://www.kcna.co.jp/item/2009/200901/news01/20090101-02ee.html |date=2009-03-25 }}, KCNA, January 1, 2009.[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7806785.stm North Korea message is mild on US] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090217211826/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7806785.stm |date=2009-02-17 }}. BBC News. January 1, 2009. This was echoed again in its 2010 editorial, which called for an end to hostilities with the United States and a nuclear free Korean Peninsula.Kim, Sam (January 1, 2010). [http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/northkorea/2010/01/01/73/0401000000AEN20100101002100315F.HTML N. Korea calls for end to enmity with U.S., hints at return to nuclear talks] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120226065139/http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/northkorea/2010/01/01/73/0401000000AEN20100101002100315F.HTML |date=2012-02-26 }}. Yonhap.

The 2011 joint editorial edition, aside from its calls for a denuclearized Korea and for a slowdown of tensions between the two Koreas, has for the first time, mentioned the rising light industries of North Korea, given as a reason for an upcoming upsurge in the national economy in the new year and for the achievement of the Kangsong Taeguk national mission. The practice of a joint New Year editorial ended in 2013 when Kim Jong Un delivered the first New Year speech on television in 19 years.{{Cite web |title=How to interpret Kim Jong Un's New Year's address |last=Tertitskiy |first=Fyodor |work=NK News |date=29 December 2017 |access-date=8 October 2018 |url=https://www.nknews.org/2017/12/how-to-interpret-kim-jong-uns-new-years-address/ |archive-date=22 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190722101150/https://www.nknews.org/2017/12/how-to-interpret-kim-jong-uns-new-years-address/ |url-status=live }}

In June 2018, Rodong Sinmun devoted a four-page feature to the North Korea–United States summit, welcoming its results. The article carried the text of the declaration in full. In addition, it mentioned security guarantees and Donald Trump's pledge to cease the joint military exercises with South Korea, and failed to mention the promise Kim had allegedly made to Trump about closing down a test site for missile engines.{{Cite web | title = North Korea welcomes Trump's promise to end military exercises: KCNA | last = Zwirko | first = Colin | work=NK News | date = June 12, 2018 | access-date = June 13, 2018 | url = https://www.nknews.org/2018/06/north-korea-welcomes-trumps-promise-to-end-military-exercises-kcna/ | archive-date = January 15, 2020 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200115205652/https://www.nknews.org/2018/06/north-korea-welcomes-trumps-promise-to-end-military-exercises-kcna/ | url-status = live }}

See also

References

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