Chinese TikTok Transforms North Korean Propaganda into Viral Memes – NK News

North Korean propaganda has found an unlikely new home on the Chinese version of TikTok, where state-sanctioned images and videos are being transformed into viral memes by Chinese users.

Douyin, the Chinese counterpart to TikTok, has become a hotspot for content featuring North Korea’s tightly controlled propaganda materials, repackaged with upbeat music, colorful filters, and playful captions. These posts regularly attract millions of views, with Chinese users seemingly fascinated by the isolated nation’s unique aesthetics and messaging.

The trend represents a significant shift in how North Korean propaganda reaches international audiences. Traditionally limited to official state channels and occasional foreign news reports, these materials now circulate widely among Chinese social media users who remix them into entertainment content.

“What we’re seeing is a form of digital cultural appropriation,” explains Dr. Lee Min-ho, an expert on East Asian digital media at Seoul National University. “These users are taking propaganda designed for domestic North Korean consumption and repurposing it for entertainment value, often stripping it of its original context and meaning.”

The content typically features clips from North Korean state television, including military parades, orchestral performances, and public celebrations. Chinese users add trendy music, animated effects, and commentary that transforms the solemn propaganda into lighthearted content.

One popular category involves videos of North Korean news anchor Ri Chun-hee, known for her distinctive pink traditional dress and emotional delivery style. Her passionate announcements about missile launches and political developments have been remixed into dance videos and comedy skits that garner millions of views.

The phenomenon raises questions about the ethics of turning propaganda from an authoritarian regime into entertainment. Critics argue that the meme-ification trivializes the realities of life under the Kim regime, where citizens face severe restrictions on freedom of expression and human rights violations.

“There’s a concerning disconnect between the playful nature of these memes and the harsh realities they obscure,” notes Emma Davidson, a researcher with Human Rights Watch. “When we turn North Korean propaganda into entertainment, we risk normalizing a regime that continues to commit serious human rights abuses.”

The Chinese government’s approach to this content remains ambiguous. While authorities strictly control political content on Douyin, North Korean memes appear to operate in a gray area that has so far escaped significant censorship.

This tolerance may reflect China’s complex relationship with North Korea. As Pyongyang’s most important economic and diplomatic ally, Beijing maintains a delicate balance between supporting stability in North Korea while also encouraging economic reforms.

Media expert Professor Zhang Wei of Peking University points out that the trend also reveals something about Chinese social media users themselves. “Young Chinese netizens are drawn to North Korean aesthetics precisely because they appear retro and distinct from both Western and contemporary Chinese culture. There’s a sense of nostalgia and exoticism at play.”

For North Korea, this unintended audience represents a curious development. The regime invests heavily in propaganda for domestic consumption and carefully curated messaging for international audiences. Having their content remixed as entertainment on Chinese social media was likely never part of their communication strategy.

Some experts suggest that the trend may inadvertently serve North Korean interests by keeping the country in the public consciousness without focusing on human rights issues or nuclear tensions. “It creates a form of soft familiarity that can blunt criticism,” suggests Dr. Park Ji-young, a North Korea analyst based in Tokyo.

As digital platforms continue to transform how information spreads globally, the case of North Korean propaganda on Douyin demonstrates how even the most controlled messaging can take on unexpected new lives when exposed to different cultural contexts and platforms.

Whether this represents cultural exchange, exploitation, or something in between remains a matter of debate. What’s clear is that in the digital age, even the most tightly controlled propaganda can escape its intended purpose and audience, finding new meanings in unexpected corners of the internet.