Auf der Website „Choson Exchange“ erschien zur Berichterstattung der nordkoreanischen Medien über den Bauunfall in Pyongyang ein beachtenswerter Artikel, in dem es heißt:
Zitat:Phyongchon-gate reflects a new propaganda style, where the government acknowledges a mistake, have senior-level officials or party cadres assume responsibility, and highlight corrective measures.
This shift started in 2012, when North Korea publicly admitted that its attempted rocket launch in April did not succeed. North Korea mentioned at that time that its scientists were assessing what caused the failure. Kim Jong Un followed up on this narrative when he castigated officials for failing to properly maintain Mangyongdae funfair in May that year, pointing to the funfair’s dilapidated state, even pulling weeds from the ground himself. Last month, Kim Jong Un during a military exercise, “severely criticized the [artillery] sub-unit for failing to make good combat preparations.” It is the public nature of such criticism and the blame attributed to government officials that should draw our attention.
Phyongchon-gate and similar stories reflect a government trying to portray itself as accountable and responsive to its grassroots. The top leadership acknowledges public concerns, and shows that it is standing with the grassroots by holding middle- or senior-level management responsible.