Just a few months ago, several threats of nuclear bombing paved a definite path for North Korea and the United States towards war. However, through the summit that on June 12 in Singapore, the backs that were once turned have now faced each other. North Koreans are shining a rather positive light on Donald Trump, a rare event for Trump. As extremely controversial presidents, both Kim Jong Un and Donald Trump, this news is gaining national attention and becoming the cynosure of the nation. The media is blowing up as the issue is becoming the main focus for both politicians and citizens of the United States. On the other hand, the aspects of North Koreans have not yet been presented. How exactly are North Koreans reacting to this matter?

Due to limited exposure of the media, North Koreans received this news only through the Korean Central Television, the only channel able to be accessed for most. Crowds of people gathered at big screens on streets, displaying the arrival of Kim Jong Un to Singapore. Because the Korean Central Television claimed that Kim Jong Un was welcomed with “deep respect and boundless enthusiasm,” the public was assured with great confidence that the meeting would be successful. Through the North Korean media, citizens were given “an idea not just of what's going on, but also of how the government expects them to respond.” The high sensitivity of the topic prohibits North Koreans from truly expressing their opinion. Han II Gwang, a Pyongyang resident who spoke to an Associated Press television crew explained that he “wished [for his] respected marshal [to] stay healthy and come back in good health.”

Through the recent summit, North Koreans are reacting optimistically towards Donald Trump, though broad. It possibly might be the most positive attention that Donald Trump has ever received, and might ever receive. According to North Korea’s official news agency, Donald Trump is highly recognized through his actions in hope of “achieving peace, stability, and denuclearization of the Korean peninsula.”

Yet, the actual truth lies behind the minds of North Koreans, not the mind of the North Korean media. Just as the United States has prejudices on North Korea, North Korea similarly holds preconceptions about the United States. The citizens cannot be completely faulted for assuming the United States as the “evil nation.” With their only source of information as the regime, it is fairly easy for the government to control the morals of their citizens. Just one example is The US Imperialists Started the Korean War, a propaganda book falsely accusing the U.S for its aggressive behavior by provoking the Korean War.

The authoritarian society only permits the slightest bit of information to come out and in; therefore, it is way too soon to jump to conclusions. The most important part of the relationship between North Korea and the United States is undoubtedly the response and the opinions of the citizens. It seems as if the media forgot this too soon.