How North Korea uses cartoons to evade sanctions

Recently, it was reported that North Korean animators may have been working on cartoon projects for western firms, including Amazon and HBO. Data found on a North Korean computer server suggests they worked on programmes such as Amazon’s Invincible, without western studios knowing.

To those more used to North Korea’s frequent warnings about crushing the West and unleashing nuclear weapons on the world, it might seem surprising that the country also has a sideline in animation.

But despite being one of the world’s most isolated states, North Korea has a long history of producing cartoons. Most of the animations the country makes are meant for a domestic audience. Ninety-eight per cent of North Korean households own a television and broadcasting has been a powerful way of underscoring the Kim regime’s ideology, particularly since television sets, as well as radios, are all pre-tuned to government-controlled broadcasting stations.  

The second North Korean leader, Kim Jong Il, was an avid fan of watching and directing films.