ID :
195792
Tue, 07/19/2011 - 10:59
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/195792
The shortlink copeid
NK's alleged alteration of photo indicates worsened food problem?
(Yonhap Editorial)
SEOUL, July 19 (Yonhap) -- The Associated Press (AP) has asked its client agencies worldwide to withdraw a North Korean news agency's photo of flooding in the North's capital, saying it appears to have been altered through digital technology.
The photo taken by the North's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) was distributed to AP members and customers on July 16 and purports to show floods that hit Pyongyang a day earlier. On Sunday, one day after the picture originally ran, the AP decided something about the picture didn't quite look right and issued a "kill notice" -- a message telling subscribers that the agency no longer stands by the photo.
The AP, which has a contract with a Tokyo-based company to redistribute KCNA photos, said in an advisory, "Editors and librarians please eliminate from your photo systems and archives the AP photo (from the KCNA) on July 16, 2011. The content of this image has been digitally altered and does not accurately reflect the scene. No other version of the photo is available."
North Korea watchers in Seoul speculate that the KCNA photo, if really altered, may have been aimed at exaggerating the flooding situation in North Korea to induce more international aid.
From the beginning of this year Pyongyang has appealed to the international community for food aid claiming that it is short 6 million tons of grain. Upon this call the European Union has decided to offer aid but the United States has been lukewarm on shipping grain to North Korea while South Korea has not resumed its food aid either.
That North Korea publicized the flood in its capital and released the allegedly altered photo showing the seriousness of the situation. Since North Korea constructed a flood gate on the lower stream of Daedong River in 1986, Pyongyang had not experienced a flood for more than 20 years. Recently the North Korean capital had consecutive floods for the past three years, which experts say means the infrastructure in Pyongyang cannot prevent floods now.
It's not the first time the KCNA has been suspected of altering images. In 2008, it was accused of trying to pass off old photos of North Korean leader Kim Jong-il as fresh and adding Kim to an image of soldiers.
North Korea may well be aware of the fact that alteration of photos or committing military provocations to create tension cannot be fundamental solutions to various pending problems, including the food shortage and consolidation of power succession.
The answer lies in the improvement of inter-Korean relations and easing of tension on the Korean Peninsula through dialogue and negotiations with South Korea.
Now is the time for both Koreas to put an end to confrontation. The South has been showing flexibility in its relations with the North and now North Korea should respond to it. Delegates from the two sides are expected to meet in the ASEAN Regional Forum from July 21 to 23 in Bali, Indonesia. We expect the North to comply with sincerity to the denuclearziation talks with South Korea.
SEOUL, July 19 (Yonhap) -- The Associated Press (AP) has asked its client agencies worldwide to withdraw a North Korean news agency's photo of flooding in the North's capital, saying it appears to have been altered through digital technology.
The photo taken by the North's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) was distributed to AP members and customers on July 16 and purports to show floods that hit Pyongyang a day earlier. On Sunday, one day after the picture originally ran, the AP decided something about the picture didn't quite look right and issued a "kill notice" -- a message telling subscribers that the agency no longer stands by the photo.
The AP, which has a contract with a Tokyo-based company to redistribute KCNA photos, said in an advisory, "Editors and librarians please eliminate from your photo systems and archives the AP photo (from the KCNA) on July 16, 2011. The content of this image has been digitally altered and does not accurately reflect the scene. No other version of the photo is available."
North Korea watchers in Seoul speculate that the KCNA photo, if really altered, may have been aimed at exaggerating the flooding situation in North Korea to induce more international aid.
From the beginning of this year Pyongyang has appealed to the international community for food aid claiming that it is short 6 million tons of grain. Upon this call the European Union has decided to offer aid but the United States has been lukewarm on shipping grain to North Korea while South Korea has not resumed its food aid either.
That North Korea publicized the flood in its capital and released the allegedly altered photo showing the seriousness of the situation. Since North Korea constructed a flood gate on the lower stream of Daedong River in 1986, Pyongyang had not experienced a flood for more than 20 years. Recently the North Korean capital had consecutive floods for the past three years, which experts say means the infrastructure in Pyongyang cannot prevent floods now.
It's not the first time the KCNA has been suspected of altering images. In 2008, it was accused of trying to pass off old photos of North Korean leader Kim Jong-il as fresh and adding Kim to an image of soldiers.
North Korea may well be aware of the fact that alteration of photos or committing military provocations to create tension cannot be fundamental solutions to various pending problems, including the food shortage and consolidation of power succession.
The answer lies in the improvement of inter-Korean relations and easing of tension on the Korean Peninsula through dialogue and negotiations with South Korea.
Now is the time for both Koreas to put an end to confrontation. The South has been showing flexibility in its relations with the North and now North Korea should respond to it. Delegates from the two sides are expected to meet in the ASEAN Regional Forum from July 21 to 23 in Bali, Indonesia. We expect the North to comply with sincerity to the denuclearziation talks with South Korea.
