North Korea secretly loves Disney – with Ratatouille and other classics amongst the only media from the USA allowed in the country.
New research reveals that the supposedly anti-western nation loves the kids movies.
Insights into the four TV channels shown in the Communist state – led by dictator Kim Jong-un – revealed the country’s adoration for Walt’s brand of entertainment.
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Media from the USA is almost completely banned on the airwaves in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.
However, Disney and Pixar movies are believed to be an exception to the rule due to their “tame” storylines.
A study, conducted by 38North, delved into the digital network in the highly secretive nation.
The four channels available are Korean Central Television, Ryongnamsan Television, Mansudae Television and Sports Television.
Mansudae TV carries the largest amount of foreign content.
On 30 November, Ratatouille dubbed in Korean was broadcast to the nation in the afternoon, as reported by Need To Know.
According to the report, several Disney and Pixar films are available on DVD in North Korea, even under the dictatorship.
However, none of these films are ever shown on Korean Central TV.
Mansudae TV has been available in the capital Pyongyang since 1983.
It broadcasts from Friday to Sunday until 10pm.
Short clips of animated Disney films such as 2021’s Luca are also shown on Ryongnamsan TV, which is an education channel.
Five minutes of the film were shown in English with no subtitles. Phrases were then explained before the clip played again with subtitles.
Martyn Williams from 38North said: “Very little US content is available officially in North Korea, but Disney and Pixar movies are the exception as their storylines are usually tame and have little objectionable material.
“Several are available on DVD in the country, but such movies are never shown on KCTV.
“Between the foreign fare, Mansudae TV broadcast the kind of small feature programs on nature, science and technology and general knowledge that make up a portion of the KCTV daily schedule.
“These filler programs are common across all channels and often have an educational message and sometimes an underlying propaganda message as well.”
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