North Korea's Newest Media Outlet

This week, the North Korean Government was able to secure the services of one of America's most read newspapers, The Los Angeles Times.
In a front page article on Thursday, March 3, 2005, North Korea was able to present as 'news' a propaganda campaign designed to build empathy for its people who are suffering at the hands of the Bush Administration.
The article does not raise any issues that may involve the impact that North Korea's nuclear program has had on the deteriorating relationship between the U.S. and itself.
Of greater concern is the statement in the article that North Koreans are happy with the current leadership under the Kim dynasty. The article states that the North Koreans are 'different' than western civilizations.
This argument has been used for centuries by oppressive governments to justify such reprehensible practices as slavery, apartheid, indentured servitude, and most recently, the potential for a free, democratic government in Iraq.
The American and the European media has been filled with articles and essays outlining a plethora of reasons that a tribal culture was incapable of evolving into a society governed by the principles of democracy.
January 31, 2005 and millions of ink-dipped fingers disproved that notion.
Despite this, on March 3, 2005, an American newspaper advocated the views of a government who is openly hostile towards America.
One can only presume that the editorial practices normally used in journalism were suspended in the crafting and subsequent publication of the articles because the Los Angeles Times has been contracted to provide media services by the North Korean government.
This possibility is not far-fetched when an examination is made of the current financial status of the Los Angeles Times.
In the last two years, the Times have lost substantial numbers of subscribers due to 'inaccuracies' and obvious bias in news reporting. Advertising revenues have fallen due to the loss of so many readers.
This opens the door to more 'creative' ways to recoup revenues lost such as North Korea's recent propaganda campaign being presented as credible news articles within the newspaper.
Recent inquiries to the Newspapers parent- Tribune, have met with no reply.
Perhaps we will begin seeing more 'news' articles on such exciting developments as "China's new evangelical movement", "Survey shows Saudi citizens support peace process in Israel", and even more likely, "Americans support open U.S./Mexican border".
All of these headlines are about as truthful as the recent North Korean article headline- "North Korea, without the rancor.