North Korea has not informed its citizens about the ousting of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro by U.S. military operations. Analysts suggest that on Wednesday, the regime’s reluctance to disclose that a dictator lost power within hours stems from concerns it could intensify fear of the U.S. and erode trust in their supreme leader.
On Sunday, North Korea’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson criticized U.S. intervention in Venezuela during a Q&A with a reporter from the Korean Central News Agency. The spokesperson accused the United States of flagrantly violating Venezuela’s sovereignty and condemned what were described as Washington’s hegemonic actions, arguing that they constitute a serious infringement of national sovereignty and a clear violation of the UN Charter and international law, which are based on respect for sovereignty, non-interference in internal affairs, and territorial integrity.
However, North Korean citizens are blocked from accessing the Korean Central News Agency, effectively preventing the Foreign Ministry’s statements from reaching them. The spokesperson carefully avoided mentioning Maduro’s arrest or removal and refrained from directly addressing the details of the Venezuelan crisis.
This cautious approach becomes more evident when examining recent North Korean media coverage of Venezuela. The Rodong Sinmun published 17 articles about Venezuela in December alone, openly supporting Maduro’s regime. At that time, they framed U.S. sanctions and pressure as violations of sovereignty, portraying Venezuela as part of an anti-U.S. alliance. However, once Maduro’s regime began to crumble, North Korea abruptly halted its Venezuela-related reporting.
Experts believe North Korea’s decision to withhold information about this situation internally is rooted in fears that revealing how a leader of a U.S.-opposing country can be ousted by external pressure could destabilize their own regime.
Moreover, North Korea has been intensifying anti-U.S. sentiment to bolster internal unity. There are concerns that if news of the U.S. removing President Maduro spreads, it could transform this hostility into fear. Some analysts suggest that the regime is also wary of potential internal dissent.
This response is notably more cautious compared to past instances. During the collapses of the Libyan and Iraqi regimes, North Korea occasionally referenced these events to warn about the dangers of U.S.-style regime change. Following the fall of Muammar Gaddafi’s regime in Libya, North Korea repeatedly cited it as an example of a state that collapsed after relinquishing its nuclear program, emphasizing the necessity of maintaining nuclear and military capabilities.
Even then, North Korea preferred to selectively quote relevant points only after situations had stabilized, rather than providing detailed reports on the collapse processes. They focused on information that could reinforce their regime rather than disseminating real-time updates about external events.
In the current Venezuelan crisis, North Korea has refrained from even using these events as a cautionary tale, indicating a more cautious approach than in the past. The ongoing nature of Venezuela’s potential regime change and the direct U.S. involvement may be further complicating North Korea’s stance on the matter.