『로동신문』 프레임 분석을 통해 본 2024년 북한 정세 평가 및 향후 전망 = Frame Analysis of Rodong Sinmun Articles in 2024: Assessing North Korea’s Political Landscape and Outlook

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

This study analyzes 11,343 articles from Rodong Sinmun published between January 1 and December 31, 2024, to assess North Korea’s major policies and developments throughout the year. Seven frame types―regime consolidation, self-reliance, social control, military-scientific advancement, public health, inter-Korean severance, and foreign relations―were identified. The regime consolidation frame appeared most frequently, and together with self-reliance and social control, accounted for 78% of all articles. This highlights the regime’s emphasis on stability, economic development, and internal control under Kim Jong Un. In foreign relations, anti-U.S. rhetoric dominated, while the Russia alliance frame increased and the China cooperation frame declined. Frame shifts closely reflected key events such as the formalization of inter-Korean hostility, deepening North Korea-Russia military cooperation, economic difficulties, and strengthened social control. These findings indicate that North Korea strategically focused on internal unity, external assertiveness, and tighter social control in 2024. Looking ahead, the regime is expected to maintain anti-U.S. rhetoric, strengthen ties with Russia, and continue the structural fixation of inter- Korean conflict. This study empirically demonstrates how changes in official media frames reflect and reinforce North Korea’s policy direction and social reality.