Nippon No Kaze il bon ue: August 4, 2024

Many thanks to SRAA contributor, Carlos Latuff, who shares the following recording, along with his original artwork (above), and notes:

Opening of Japanese government shortwave radio programs aimed at Japanese citizens abducted by DPRK between 1977 and 1983: "Furusato No Kaze" (in Japanese) and "Nippon No Kaze il bon ue" (in Korean). Broadcasted from a transmitter in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, and listened in Florianopolis, Brazil.

KCBS Sinuiju (North Korea) 873 kHz: October 21, 2021

Many thanks to SRAA contributor, Paul Walker, who shares the following recording and notes:

873 kHz KCBS Sinuiju, North Korea at 1633UTC on Thursday, Oct 21, 2021 with instrumental North Korean music. Signal held out pretty decently for over 6 minutes. 250KW 3500 miles.

Receiver location: McGrath, Alaska

Receiver and antenna: C.Crane CC Skywave and Gary DeBock 5" FSL antenna

Radio Pyongyang (Mandarin Service): April 25, 1999

Kim Jong Il Voice of Korea Propaganda - 1.jpeg

Many thanks to SRAA contributor, Andy Wang, who shares the following recording and notes:

DPRK's international radio service was named "Radio Pyongyang" until year 2002. Now it is called "Voice of Korea".

In Chinese, Korean and Japanese languages, there are different words to distinguish the north and south.

In English language, word "Korea" may stand for both.

I think the name "Radio Pyongyang" is clear, does not have ambiguity. The name "Voice of Korea", we cannot guess which side it is from.

The radio recording was on the Military Foundation Day in DPRK, 25 April 1999. Its content is the celebration of the festival.

The programmes are political promotion news, editorials, songs and music.

The distance from receiving place Shenyang to Pyongyang is about 374.3KM, to Seoul is about 565.4KM, and to Beijing is about 660.5KM.

The two distances are shorter than to China's capital, it is easier to receive the radio programmes from the Korean Peninsula, and no special equipment is required.

Sometimes in the night, in the mid wave band, the radio transmission from North Korea can "mix" with Shenyang local radio signal, unintentionally interferes the local broadcast.

Broadcaster: Radio Pyongyang

Date of recording: 4/25/1999

Starting time: 11:00

Frequency: 9.445 MHz

Reception location: Shenyang China

Receiver and antenna: Philips Radio Receiver and Casette Recorder AW7509 with antenna on it

KCBS Pyongyang: December 3, 2016

Many thanks to SRAA contributor, Anthony Messina, who shares the following recording and notes:

This recording was taken at 15kHz filtering, and is for historical purposes. It was taken via using the globaltuners.com node in Daegu, South Korea tuned to 2850kHz which is the domestic SW frequency of the DPRK. 2850kHz simulcasts the same broadcast on their MW frequency of 819kHz. 819kHz is listenable via this node, but it is usually met with noise jamming from the ROK and the 2850kHz frequency was booming in and much nicer to listen to. I will make more recordings of the many DPRK stations, including their 819kHz station. 
It was taken on the 3rd of December, 2016 at 5:02pm EST

Voice of Korea: October 17, 2016

Many thanks to SRAA contributor, Paul Walker, who notes:

This is the English service broadcast for The Voice Of Korea to "Latin America" from Kujang, North Korea. Recorded 0430-0530UTC October 17, 2016 using a Tecsun PL880, Welbrook ALA1530LNP, EmTech ZM2 antenna tuner and DXEngineering HF Preamp.
Listening location is Galena, Alaska. A village of 500 people in the rural central interior, 300 miles east of Nome and 300 miles west of Fairbanks

KCBS Pyongyang: April 9, 2016

Korean Central Broadcasting Station, Pyongyang recorded in London, UK on April 9, 2016 at 1601 UTC, on the frequency of 11680 kHz using AirSpy, SpyVerter, SDR# software and a 2 x 6m long wire dipole antenna. SDR#'s IF noise reduction plugin was used to mitigate the severe levels of static arising from poor propagation conditions. The non-directional transmitter has a power rating of 50 kW and is located in Kanggye, DPRK.

Voice of Korea: January 17, 2016

Many thanks to SRAA contributor, Jordan Heyburn, who submits this SoundCloud recording of the Voice of Korea. This broadcast was recorded on January 17, 2016, on 12,015 kHz starting at 15:30 UTC. 

Jordan recorded this broadcast from his home in Armagh, Northern Ireland with his Kenwood R1000 and dipole antenna.  Jordan notes that his reception, unfortunately, does include some heavy RFI (noise/interference).

Voice of Korea heard in English to Northern Ireland using a Kenwood R1000 with a Dipole.

Voice of Korea, Sign-off: May 9, 2015

Many thanks to Anthony Messina, for this recording of the Voice of Korea sign off on 15.180 MHz using his Grundig Satellite 750 with External Solarcon in Haddon Heights, NJ USA. Anthony comments:

"Recorded using a panasonic tape recorder to do it the old fashioned way. At the end I mention exactly what time I recorded this."

Voice of Korea: August 9, 2014

North Korea propaganda poster

North Korea propaganda poster

Many thanks to SWAA contributor, Frank, for this recording of Voice of Korea's English language service. 

Recorded in Europe on August 9, 2014 starting at 16:00 UTC on 11,645 kHz. Frank used a Kenwood R-5000 receiver and Wellbrook ALA 1530+ antenna.

Click here to download the recording as an MP3, or simply listen via the embedded player below:

Voice of Korea, English: August 17, 2014

North Korea Propaganda Poster

North Korea Propaganda Poster

Many thanks to Shortwave Radio Audio Archive contributor, Andre Bagley, who submits this recent recording of the Voice of Korea. Andre writes:

"Voice Of Korea is the international radio service of North Korea (officially known as the Democratic Republic of Korea). Most broadcasts of Voice Of Korea only have one or two stories that are either anti-American, anti-South Korean, or ant-Japanese. However, this particular broadcast's news segment seems to be solely dedicated to insulting it's enemies. Here we have North Korean commentary on the current Israel-Hamas conflict on the Gaza Strip, where the United States is blamed for the mess in their report. South Korea is declared a "colony" of the United States, and much more!

The program follows the exact same format for every broadcast:

:00 Opening signal, station identification: “This is Voice of Korea”

:01 National Anthem

:03 Song of General Kim Il Sung

:06 Song of General Kim Jong Il

:09 News, editorials (approx 15 minutes, but can be extended to full broadcast), followed by music

:30 Reminiscences of Great Leader President Kim Il Sung

:40 Music and features

:50 Editorial, special message (occasional)

:55 Frequency information

:57 Close

The broadcast was recorded using a Olympus VN-702 voice recorder hooked up to a Tecsun PL-600 Shortwave receiver using a random wire antenna. Broadcast was received on 11710 khz between1500-1557 UTC."

Click here to download as an MP3, or simply listen via the embedded player below:

Voice of Korea, English: July 6, 2014

Many thanks to SRAA contributor, London Shortwave, for this recording of the Voice of Korea's English language service.from July 6, 2014 starting at 21:00 UTC on 13,760 kHz. 

Note that this recording was made in London, England in the presence of strong RFI (radio frequency interference). The contributor used his complex RFI-defeating system (which includes phased magnetic loop antennas and digital noise reduction) in order to cancel much of the noise. The end result is much easier to hear, but sounds more "digital" than the typical recording posted here on the SRAA. London Shortwave proves, though, that you don't have to give up SWLing if you live in a high-density urban neighborhood.

Voice of Korea, English: May 15, 2014

PYONGYANG METRO STATION (ORIGINAL SOURCE: WIKIMEDIA COMMONS)

PYONGYANG METRO STATION (ORIGINAL SOURCE: WIKIMEDIA COMMONS)

Many thanks to SWAA contributor, Frank, for this recording of the Voice of Korea's English language service. 

Frank recorded this broadcast of VOK from his home in Europe on May 15, 2014, on 11,645 kHz, starting at 16:00 UTC, using a Kenwood R-5000 receiver and a Wellbrook ALA 1530+ antenna.

Click here to download the recording as an MP3, or simply listen via the embedded player below:

Voice of Korea: March 27, 2014

Many thanks to SWAA contributor, Frank, for this recording of the Voice of Korea's English language service. 

Frank recorded this broadcast of VOK from his home in Europe on March 27, 2014, on 7,570 kHz, starting at 21:00 UTC, using a Kenwood R-5000 receiver and a Wellbrook ALA 1530+ antenna.

Click here to download the recording as an MP3, or simply listen via the embedded player below:

Voice of Korea: February 14, 2014

The Tower of Juche Idea statue, Pyongyang, North Korea (Photo: Martyn Williams).

The Tower of Juche Idea statue, Pyongyang, North Korea (Photo: Martyn Williams).

Many thanks to SWAA contributor, Frank, for this recording of the Voice of Korea's English language service. Incidentally, you may have noticed that Frank is a very regular contributor here on the SWAA, and we are most grateful for his excellent recordings.

Frank recorded this broadcast of VOK from his home in Europe on February 14, 2014, on 7,570 kHz, starting at 15:00 UTC, using a Kenwood R-5000 receiver and a Wellbrook ALA 1530+ antenna.

Note that VOK mentions the "Shining Star Day": a celebration of the late Kim Jong Il's 72nd birthday. Click here for a VOR report on Shining Star Day.

Click here to download the recording as an MP3, or simply listen via the embedded player below:

Of course, the Voice of Korea is all about broadcasting hard-core propaganda--a type of broadcast I find incredibly fascinating. But let there be no mistake, to live in the DPRK is to live under one of the world's most oppressive regimes.  If you want to hear a moving, inspirational story about one North Korean woman's escape from the DPRK, click here to view Hyeonseo Lee's: My escape from North Korea, a TED Talk.

Voice of Korea: November 13, 2013

Pyongyang Metro Station (Original Source: Wikimedia Commons)

Pyongyang Metro Station (Original Source: Wikimedia Commons)

Many thanks to SWAA contributor, Frank, for this recording of theVoice of Korea's English language service.

Frank recorded this broadcast from his home in Europe on November 13, 2013, on 11,645 kHz, starting at 16:00 UTC, using a Kenwood R-5000 receiver and a Wellbrook ALA 1530+ antenna.

Click here to download the recording as an MP3, or simply listen via the embedded player below: