Tony Hall says he wants a Korean service but rights activists warn a lack of funding and political will could stand in the way. NK News reports

This article is more than 5 years old

This article is more than 5 years old

The BBC unveiled proposals on Monday to expand its World Service operation, including broadcasting a daily news program in North Korea over shortwave radio.

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But the pledge has been meet by some scepticism by human rights activists, who say significant hurdles remain before the BBC can turn their North Korean plans into a reality.

“There are two main obstacles to overcome for a BBC Korean service to be established: funding and political will,” said Michael Glendinning, co-director of the London-based European Alliance for Human Rights in North Korea.



The announcement, coming amid pressure from the UK government for the broadcaster to make significant budget cuts, was unclear about whether the new service can be incorporated into the corporation’s existing budget.



“It would cost, give or take, in the region of £1m a year to run a service,” Glendinning said, noting that “it has been suggested that the BBC would request money from the British government.”

“Given the slashing of government budgets and a lack of political will, I feel it is unlikely the BBC will be able to source the funding from there.”



A BBC spokesperson told the Independent newspaper that the funding of the proposed service had yet to be agreed.

“Funding for the [expansion of the] World Service will need to be discussed with the government, but the rest of the proposals would be funded within the confines of the budget agreement with the government, and will not require any additional license fee funding.”

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Tony Hall, director general of the BBC speaking at the Science Museum about the organisation’s future plans. Photograph: Reuters

Obstacles

Glendinning said the hurdles are not limited to the cost: he warned that it was unlikely the proposals would gain support from the UK’s Foreign and Commonwealth office (FCO).

“I have seen no evidence that the FCO or British government would be willing to support a BBC Korean service. Currently, the BBC would need [foreign minister] Philip Hammond’s approval,” Glendinning said.

“I do not believe that approval will be granted because it would be a complete U-turn in the UK’s foreign policy towards North Korea.”

The FCO’s policy remains one of critical engagement, which fosters exchange and dialogue with the secretive state in conjunction with “making clear the views of the UK and the international community on the DPRK’s nuclear weapons program and proliferation activities and on its human rights record.”

Writing in July, investigative journalist John Sweeney called for the BBC to consider broadcasting into the DPRK, a country where “information is the most powerful weapon against the regime”.

“Interviews with defectors reveal that many listen to news from shortwave radios, despite fear of severe punishment, and there is a new $50 portable media device providing a window to the outside world – despite the government’s best efforts to isolate its population,” making this a key moment for the BBC to step in, Sweeney argued.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Kim Jong-un visiting a textile mill in Pyongyang. Activists say Photograph: KNS/AFP/Getty Images

There is currently little to suggest North Korea would welcome the BBC into the country, due to the importance it places on maintaining a monopoly on the supply of information.

Radios are permitted in the country as long as they are tuned to only receive transmissions from government radio stations, and those who dare to listen to foreign broadcasts take a significant risk. Under North Korean law, “listening to unauthorised foreign broadcasts and possessing dissident publications are considered ‘crimes against the state’ that carry serious punishments, including hard labour, prison sentences, and the death penalty,” according to Freedom House.

‘British values’

Included in its Monday pledge, the BBC said it wanted to provide better coverage to countries where there is a “democratic deficit in impartial news”.

In the announcement, director general Tony Hall also promised more broadcasts to Russia, India and the Middle East, and a news service for Ethiopia and Eritrea on medium wave and short wave.

“This is about upholding Britain’s place in the world and the promotion of British values,” the corporation said in a statement published by the Independent.

'Information is the most powerful weapon against North Korea regime' Read more

However, Glendinning was skeptical of the motivation to make the declaration on Monday.

“As wonderful as it would be for the BBC to launch a Korean service not just for the people of North Korea, but also for British-Korean relations, I do not believe this will happen any time soon.”

Glendinning’s NGO has been among the loudest voices in calling for the BBC to start broadcasting into North Korea.

A version of this article first appeared on NK News