Secret State of North Korea
Secret State of North Korea offers a rare glimpse into the isolated world of North Korea under the rule of Kim Jong Un. It features undercover footage smuggled out of the country by a network of ordinary North Koreans who risk their lives to capture images of daily life that the regime wants to hide from the world.
The film introduces Jiro Ishimaru, a Japanese journalist who coordinates this covert network of citizen journalists inside North Korea. These brave individuals use hidden cameras to document the reality of life for average North Koreans, including widespread poverty, food shortages, and the presence of orphaned street children begging for food and money.
Contrasting with the regime’s propaganda, which portrays North Korea as a prosperous and content nation, the smuggled footage reveals empty department stores with products on display but not for sale, and weekly mandatory meetings where citizens must demonstrate their loyalty to the regime. The documentary also touches on the country’s notorious political prison camps, which have reportedly grown in size since Kim Jong Un came to power.
The film features interviews with defectors who provide insight into life inside North Korea. One former street child describes his experiences of hunger and hardship before escaping to South Korea. A former state propagandist explains how the regime maintains control through emotional manipulation and the cult of personality surrounding the Kim dynasty.
Secret State of North Korea also explores the increasing flow of outside information into the country, despite the regime’s efforts to maintain isolation. Defectors living in South Korea smuggle foreign films, TV shows, and other media into North Korea on USB drives and DVDs, potentially exposing more North Koreans to life beyond their borders.
The documentary highlights the dangers faced by those who attempt to flee North Korea, including the risk of being caught and sent to prison camps, along with their extended families under the regime’s “guilt by association” policy. It also shows the challenges defectors face in adjusting to life outside North Korea, even after successfully escaping.
Through a combination of undercover footage, interviews with defectors and experts, and analysis of the regime’s propaganda, the film provides a multifaceted look at the realities of life in one of the world’s most secretive and repressive states. It underscores the contrast between the image North Korea projects to the world and the daily struggles of its citizens, while also hinting at the potential for change as more information from the outside world penetrates the country’s borders.