North Korea joins YouTube and Twitter

According to North Korea’s government-run Uriminzokkiri website, the country now has dipped a toe into the world of social media, with both a Twitter account and YouTube channel.

The two platforms have, so far, been used for anti-South Korea and anti-American messages. The Twitter account, called “@uriminzok” (which means “our nation” in Korean), has gained more than 5,000 followers since it was opened on Thursday. More than 80 video clips have been uploaded to YouTube, under the user name “uriminzokkiri,” most of which condemn South Korea and the U.S. for blaming North Korea for the sinking of a South Korean warship in March.

Brian Myers, professor of international studies at Dongseo University in South Korea, joins us to discuss North Korea’s entry into the social networking world.