Rodong Sinmun

Rodong Sinmun, literally “Workers’ Newspaper,” serves as the official daily mouthpiece of the Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea. Founded in November 1945 and rechristened the following year, it remains the most authoritative and widely circulated newspaper in North Korea.


Media assets

Publishing: Rodong Sinmun


State Media Matrix Typology

State-Controlled (SC)


The paper is published by the Rodong News Agency. It is part of a trio of major state organs, alongside Minju Joson and Joson Inmingun, that dominate North Korea’s print media landscape. Its editorial stance is closely aligned with the Party’s ideological line, frequently republishing content from the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) and serving as a barometer for official sentiment.

As of mid‑2024, reports indicate a marked decline in distribution of Rodong Sinmun to rural workplaces, with some institutions receiving only half the copies previously delivered. The paper is even being repurposed as cigarette rolling paper or makeshift toilet paper, signaling a waning audience engagement

August 2025

Citation (cite the article/profile as part of):
Dragomir, M. (2025). State Media Monitor Global Dataset 2025. Media and Journalism Research Center (MJRC). Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17219015

This article/profile is part of the State Media Monitor Global Dataset 2025, a continuously updated dataset published by the Media and Journalism Research Center (MJRC).