Latest news with #NorthKoreaNow
AFP
6 days ago
- General
- AFP
False subtitles misrepresent Kim Jong Un speech as support for West Java governor
"Kim Jong-un speaks about West Javan Governor Dedi Mulyadi, he respects him so much," reads Indonesian-language text superimposed on a TikTok video posted on May 6, 2025. The video features photos of Dedi Mulyadi and North Korea's Kim Jong Un above a clip of Kim speaking. Subtitles on the clip, purportedly translating what Kim was saying, read: "Corruption has slowed Indonesia's development. This culture must be changed, beginning with its young generation. I fully support West Java Governor Dedi Mulyadi's policy to educate Indonesian students and teenagers so they become obedient and disciplined." The text refers to a programme where students labelled "naughty" are sent to military barracks for 14 days of character education (archived link). According to a BBC Indonesia report about the programme, some psychologists and education experts have questioned its efficacy and whether it may have a detrimental impact on the teens' development. Image Screenshot of the false TikTok post, captured on June 3, 2025 The clip was also shared in similar posts elsewhere on TikTok. "What else can you say about Mr Governor? A foreign country praises him, so why do his own people in the country mock him?" reads a comment on one of the posts. Another said: "Thank you to his excellency Mr Kim Jong-un for supporting Dedi Mulyadi." The video, however, does not show Kim praising Dedi or the education programme. AFP previously debunked another claim using the same video with different subtitles to make it appear as if Kim were commenting on a local corruption case. A reverse image search on Google led to the same footage uploaded to YouTube by the North Korea Now news outlet on February 13, 2024 (archived link). The YouTube video is titled, " ". Image Screenshot comparison of the falsely shared clip (left) and the video from the North Korea Now YouTube channel (right) The clip used in the false posts starts at the YouTube video's 25:37 mark, when Kim speaks about the importance of the military in maintaining peace. "Our military must possess even stronger power, prevent war and unconditionally safeguard peace with its irresistible force. Peace is not something to beg for or negotiate," says Kim. "Let us remember once again that war is not advertised in advance. We must always maintain a state of readiness." He makes no mention of the Indonesian governor or his education policy. A transcript of Kim's speech was also included in a report in the newspaper of North Korea's ruling Workers' Party, Rodong Sinmun, on February 9, 2024 (archived link). The transcript also shows Kim did not mention Dedi.
AFP
16-04-2025
- Politics
- AFP
Footage shows Kim Jong Un's remarks on military readiness, not corruption in Indonesia
"We, as a friendly nation to Indonesia, share deep concern over the horrifying acts of corruption taking place," Kim appears to say, according to the Indonesian-language subtitles added to a SnackVideo post shared on March 18, 2025. Image Screenshot of the false post, taken on April 14, 2025 "The government officials who have been given the full trust by their people instead recklessly enrich themselves," the subtitles go on. The false video circulated after Indonesia's Attorney General's Office announced on February 25 that it had arrested executives from subsidiaries of state-owned energy firm PT Pertamina for alleged corruption over oil imports that cost the country nearly $12 billion (archived link). Authorities alleged that between 2018 and 2023, the suspects colluded to import crude oil from foreign suppliers at inflated prices, instead of sourcing it domestically as required by Indonesian law. The case also involves a fuel blending process that the office said is "not permitted" (archived link). The same video was also shared on TikTok, Facebook, and SnackVideo, with some users appearing to believe the Indonesian-language subtitles in the clip were accurate. "What an embarrassment -- our corruption is now famous in North Korea," said one user. "Even the leader of another country understands that Indonesia is the of corruption," wrote another. However, the clip -- viewed hundreds of thousands of times across various platforms -- contains fabricated subtitles of Kim's speech. Falsified remarks A reverse image search on Google led to a video published by news outlet North Korea Now on YouTube on February 13, 2024 (archived link). The video is titled "Kim orders military to prepare for the occupation of S. Korean territory". The same speech in the false posts can be heard beginning at the 25:37 mark in the clip, during which Kim discusses the importance of the military's role in maintaining global peace. "Our military must possess even stronger power, prevent war and unconditionally safeguard peace with its irresistible force. Peace is not something to beg for or negotiate," says Kim. "Let us remember once again that war is not advertised in advance. We must always maintain a state of readiness." Image Screenshot comparison of the false post (left) and the YouTube video from North Korea Now Rodong Sinmun, the newspaper of North Korea's ruling Workers' Party, published a transcript of Kim's speech on February 9, 2024. It does not show Kim mentioning corruption in Indonesia (archived link). AFP has debunked other misinformation related to the PT Pertamina case.
