YouTube Star Criticized For Propaganda Ties To North Korea

Louis Cole, a popular 33-year-old YouTuber from the U.K. with nearly two million subscribers, is known for posting travel videos. This time around posting a series of videos in the communist regime North Korea, visiting statues, museums and even a water park.

Many have criticized the British YouTuber, with Vanity Fair claiming it to be a form of propaganda, writing, “The more you watch Cole’s videos from North Korea, the more you wonder if he’s plainly ignorant to the plight of many people in the country…”

The Human Rights Watch page illustrates North Korea as “the world’s most repressive countries,” describing the plethora of horrors that occur there, from “extermination, murder, enslavement, torture, imprisonment, rape, forced abortions, and other sexual violence.”

On Wednesday, Cole posted a video responding to “the massive amount of criticism” and denying that he was paid by the North Korean government. He explains, “I do not agree with the North Korean ideologies, but I do care for and love the people there.”

Louis Cole’s team also released the following statement:

“After a recent trip to North Korea, Louis was accused by prominent news media of being a ‘tool for propaganda’. The suggestion was made that Louis’ recent videos, which followed his adventure in joining a surf camp in North Korea, were influenced or paid for by the North Korean government. This allegation is categorically untrue. The videos were in no way paid for, commissioned or influenced by any political or government body.”