Associated Press to open North Korean news bureau
The Associated Press have announced plans to expand their journalistic operations to the totalitarian state of North Korea after signing contracts with Korea Central News Agency for greater photo and video cooperation.
This will entail the opening of a new AP news bureau in Pyongyang, the first permanent text and photo bureau to be operated by a western news organisation in the North Korean capital.
Under the deal AP will be designated as the exclusive distributor of contemporary and historic footage from KCNA’s archive.
AP President and CEO Tom Curley said. “AP is once again being trusted to open a door to better understanding between a nation and the world. We are grateful for this opportunity and look forward to providing coverage for AP’s global audience in our usually reliable and insightful way."
The deal follows discussions held at AP’s New York offices this week with a President Kim led delegation of KCNA executives.