BBC to take on dictator Kim with service for North Korea

THE BBC is planning to begin radio broadcasts in North Korea – the first time it has ever targeted the notoriously secretive country.

It is one of a number of new foreign-language services which the BBC is putting forward under proposals to expand the World Service, which is often blocked by authoritarian states.

The service would broadcast in Korean in an effort to counter the diet of propaganda aired under the leadership of its despotic leader, Kim Jong-un.

The Corporation is also aiming to launch its first Russian-language TV channel, as it battles to combat the growing influence of foreign propaganda broadcasters such as the Kremlinbacked RT – formerly Russia Today – and China’s CCTV.

A BBC source said: ‘We have a strong commitment to uphold global democracy through accurate, impartial and independent news. There should no longer be any no- go countries for the World Service – it is Britain’s impartial voice to the world.’

BBC director general Lord Hall is to ask the Government for money to fund the services – likely to cost about £20million. The Corporation will not use licence-fee funding, but a source said it would match any Government contribution with commercial funds raised by services such as BBC World News.

The BBC World Service has had problems with governments blocking signals for radio and television services. Its radio service is jammed in China, while the BBC Persian satellite television service has been blocked in Iran.

Its proposals to expand are likely to receive a warm reception from Culture Secretary John Whittingdale. Last year, before he was appointed to the Cabinet, he warned that Russia and China were winning a propaganda war because of cuts to the World Service. He said: ‘We are being outgunned massively.’