Dataset

This study analyzes the narrative strategies of North Korea’s Rodong Sinmun newspaper, focusing on 2,576 headlines published between 2023 and 2024. Using computational text analysis methods, I reveal a Dual-Framing Strategy that emphasizes either personalization or collectivism, depending on the context. I argue that while political coverage predominantly glorifies Kim Jong Un, emphasizing his role as the regime’s leader, economic narratives adopt a collectivist framing, underscoring shared responsibility and self-reliance (Juche doctrine). Notably, Kim Jong Un is entirely absent from economic coverage, challenging assumptions that all propaganda in the DPRK is inherently personalist. This differentiation shields the leader from potential criticism over economic challenges while reinforcing ideological cohesion. Additionally, political coverage highlights ideological and diplomatic alliances, avoiding substantial references to international economic relations. The evidence presented underscores the calculated use of propaganda in North Korea to maintain legitimacy and ideological coherence, crafting narratives that do not uniformly rely on personalism.