South Korean agency seeks to block access to propaganda song praising NK leader

This photo, captured from a video footage aired by North Korea's Central TV on April 17 shows North Korean leader Kim Jong-un appearing in a music video of new propaganda song, titled "Friendly Father." Yonhap

South Korea's spy agency has asked the country's internet censorship body to block access to a North Korean propaganda song, citing national security concerns.

The National Intelligence Service (NIS) requested the Korea Communications Standards Commission (KCSC) Saturday to block access to a song praising North Korean leader Kim Jong-un for being a "friendly father."

The song was released on April 17 to celebrate the opening of a new 10,000-home development in Pyongyang.

The song has gone viral on social media like YouTube and TikTok. Its music video features North Korean soldiers, workers and students dancing and giving thumbs up to a man held up as the father of the nation.

An NIS official said the video should be banned as it violates Article 44-7 (Prohibition on Circulation of Unlawful Information) of the Information and Communications Network Act.

Under the act, no one can circulate information with content displaying activity prohibited by the National Security Act through an information and communications network.

If the KCSC decides to block access, the video will not be available in Korea.

North Korea's propaganda outlets have been using various social media platforms to propagandize its regime.

Last year, the standards commission blocked several North Korean propaganda YouTube channels, including the Sally Parks SongA Channel, Olivia Natasha-YuMi Space DPRK daily and New DPRK channels upon the NIS's request.