This February, we celebrate a milestone that once seemed almost impossible to reach – the 10th anniversary of the International Friendship Initiative Explore DPRK. What started as a modest effort on social media has grown into a widely recognised platform, visited by tens of thousands every month, cited across global media, and referenced in academic works.
Our journey has never been easy. In a world where narratives are carefully shaped to serve political and commercial interests, our commitment to providing an unbiased and truthful perspective on the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) has made us a target of censorship and suppression. Our profiles have been banned, our YouTube channel was erased for allegedly “violating sanctions,” and our content has been labelled a “threat” simply for presenting an alternative to mainstream portrayals. Yet, despite these obstacles, we never surrendered. We refused to be silenced, and we continued our mission, stronger than ever.
The world has changed drastically in the past decade. Today’s information landscape is unrecognisable compared to what it was when we first began. News is no longer about truth – it is a product, designed to generate clicks, spread fear, and manufacture consent. Media giants have turned knowledge into a commodity, locking information behind paywalls, flooding articles with advertisements, and distorting facts to fit political agendas.
In this era of disinformation and manipulation, Explore DPRK remains an exception. We have never, and will never follow this path. Our mission has always been to provide free and unfiltered content, without sensationalism, without political interference, and without the greed that has corrupted modern journalism. We believe that cultural understanding should not be reduced to propaganda, that knowledge should never be sold to the highest bidder, and that truth should not be dictated by those in power.
When Explore DPRK was first created, it was simply a collection of social media pages sharing insights, translated texts, and historical materials. But over time, it became clear that a more permanent and structured platform was needed. One that could not be erased with the press of a button.
Today, Explore DPRK is far more than just a social media initiative. It is a comprehensive website offering in-depth articles, historical analyses, translated official texts, traditional Korean music, photography, and resources for researchers, journalists, and those genuinely interested in understanding the DPRK beyond political narratives. Our social media channels remain an important extension of our mission, but the heart of Explore DPRK now beats here, on this platform – independent, self-sustained, and dedicated to truth.
As we enter our second decade, we reaffirm our commitment: Explore DPRK will always remain free—free of advertisements, free of clickbait, free of political distortions, and free of anything that compromises the integrity of our work.
To those who have stood by us reading, sharing, supporting, and defending our right to exist – we thank you.
This initiative would not have reached ten years without you. Explore DPRK is not just ours; it belongs to everyone who believes in a world where truth is not a tool of manipulation, but a bridge toward understanding and friendship.
Here’s to the past ten years – and to many more to come.
Thank you!