China’s cultural development and cooperation program with North Korea across the three northeastern provinces of Jilin, Liaoning and Heilongjiang goes far beyond simply sharing cultural content. Instead, it represents part of a sophisticated overseas cultural campaign tailored to current North Korean attitudes.
“China recognizes that North Koreans feel less threatened by Chinese media than by content from South Korea or the U.S. The fact that North Koreans are more receptive to Chinese media was a major factor behind this program,” a source in China told Daily NK recently.
According to the source, North Korea’s tendency to view Chinese cultural content as relatively safe presents an opportunity that China is seizing. This has led Chinese producers to focus on programs that North Koreans consider “less dangerous foreign information,” such as dramas, documentaries and lifestyle content.
Specifically, China’s strategy involves making cultural inroads into North Korea by providing useful, apolitical content such as Chinese language educational videos and informational programs about daily life in China.
Another Chinese approach is helping North Koreans grow comfortable with Chinese culture through repeated exposure to Chinese media. The goal isn’t just for North Koreans to consume Chinese content, but to become familiar with Chinese culture and view it as part of their daily lives.
“The Chinese believe it’s better to invest manpower and resources in sending more content to more areas in North Korea rather than trying to measure North Korean responses. Since any Chinese media will seem fresh to North Koreans, the Chinese think what matters isn’t what they watch, but how frequently they watch it. They’ve therefore adopted a ‘culture bomb’ strategy—overwhelming through sheer volume,” the source said.
China is exploring various methods to deliver media content into North Korea, including sending USB drives, SD cards, and MP5 video players through traders or other North Koreans traveling to China.
“While North Koreans will continue seeking South Korean media, China believes that over time, Chinese media will begin feeling more familiar and comfortable to them. China’s long-term plan is to cultivate a shared cultural identity between the two countries,” the source explained.
US pullback in democracy promotion welcomed by Chinese
As China implements this overseas cultural strategy, it’s closely watching the possibility of the U.S. scaling back efforts to influence North Korea.
“China is pleased by signs that the U.S. is voluntarily abandoning its democracy promotion campaign. If U.S.-backed content dissemination efforts lose momentum, China will become the only significant content provider. It sees this as an ideal opportunity to spread its own culture,” the source said.
“China is also preparing to use this program as a diplomatic tool. If North Korean officials and young people develop positive attitudes toward China, that could strengthen pro-China policies,” the source added.
