Dateline North Korea, but Still reporting From a Distance Christine Hauser May 6 The New York Times North Korea invited many journalists to come to their first congress in 36 years. According to their Workers’ Party they are supposed to have this congress every 5 years. This, however, is only the 7th congress held in 70 years. The event was held in Pyongyang, the capital. The journalists travelled, but when they arrived they were told they could not go to the event, and were kept on the outside. This is familiar for North Korea. In 2012 more than 50 journalists accepted invitations to attend the celebrations “Exalting the centenary of the country’s deceased founder, Kim Ilsung, the ascension of Kim Jongun and a rocket launching.” The journalists were kept in a hotel press room unable to leave. They kept them there for hours. They only heard about the rocket through texts and emails from their colleagues. Press restrictions are very common in North Korea. The AP is allowed to have an office there, but not anyone to be there. They have to get government’s permission anytime they want to visit. They are followed everywhere when they are allowed to come. They are never alone. North Korea has achieved exactly what they want. They remain alone and very mysterious. They can invoke more fear if people really don’t know what is going on. For the time being North Korea will have to remain a mystery
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