How South Korea communicates with spies in North Korea

“Attention number 521, attention number 521, Please receive a telegram.”

by Martyn Williams , May 10, 2013

     

   

Tune the shortwave radio bands around midnight and you’ll hear all sorts of signals in the air above the Korean peninsula. The late night hours are primetime for radio stations that target North Korea because its one of the few times of the day that prospective listeners can hide away in secret and listen to news and information from overseas.
But between the international broadcasters and static, there are other signals attracting a much smaller audience.
The most mysterious of these is only on the air for a few minutes each time, and the broadcasts come just a few times each night. If that’s not enough, the content of the programming is even stranger.
After a North Korean popular song, an announcer comes on and broadcasts a string of numbers. And then it shuts down.
“Attention number 521, attention number 521, Please receive a telegram.”
And then a string of numbers is read out.
It’s a so-called “numbers station.” They have been mysterious fixtures of the shortwave broadcasting bands since the cold war, sending strings of numbers that are widely believed to be coded messages for spies overseas.
This particular station has been dubbed “V24” by radio monitors that follow such broadcasts – they are still a relatively common method of communications – and it’s the only regular one on air in Korean.
Sending such messages over radio brings both advantages and disadvantages over other methods of communication.
On the down side, the radio broadcasts are one-way only. It’s not possible to send back a reply.
But on the up side, the broadcast can be received over a wide geographic area, so it doesn’t matter where someone is. And unlike other communication methods, like a drop of documents or a meeting, the only thing that has to be set up in advance is the time and frequency.
I’ve picked it up numerous times, both in South Korea, Japan and the western coast of the United States, but no one has probably done more monitoring than a user called “Token.”
Based in the Mohave Desert, Token has published the most authoritative schedule of V24 to date.
It shows V24 is on the air every day of the month and there are usually only three or four broadcasts each night, according to a schedule drawn up by a radio monitor in the U.S. When V24 does come on the air, it’s either on the hour or half hour in slots from 10pm to 1:30am local time.
It currently switches between four frequencies: 4900, 5115, 6215, 6310 kHz.
The broadcast begins with a song and the identity of the recipient, then numbers read in groups of three and two. For example: “238-89, 561-45, 573-22 …” and then the same numbers but in groups of two and three. For the example above, the second group would be: “23-889, 56-145, 57-322.”
The break between the five numbers is probably changed to improve readability in the case that the signal is bad.
Here’s a recording:
So, what’s going on here?
The numbers are, of course, the message that’s decoded by the agent in the field.
The decoding method might be a dedicated codebook or the numbers might point to letters in a real book – something that could sit on a shelf and draw no suspicion, but with the right knowledge could be used to unlock the code. For example, “238-89” might mean page 238, line 8, character 9.
But perhaps more interesting is the source of the broadcasts.
While a scratchy shortwave radio broadcast might seem likely from North Korea, most long-time number stations listeners think V24 is coming from South Korea, broadcasting to spies in the North.
The South Korean government has never confirmed this and there is little evidence to point either north or south, but the rationale is based on a few pieces of history.
The most convincing is that Radio Pyongyang, North Korea’s international shortwave broadcaster, used to transmit numbers during its programming. There wasn’t any doubt about the source of the transmissions, but monitors say they ended in December 2000.
And as far as circumstantial evidence, North Korea’s much tighter social controls hint that radio broadcasts might be a better way to route secret messages.
One other interesting thing about the broadcasts – while I have never heard it, occasionally listeners have reported hearing the Windows XP closedown sound right before the transmission goes off air.
While V24 transmits in speech, four times a month one of the same frequencies carries a similar transmission in morse code. The station, dubbed M94, is on the air at 11pm local time on the 10^th, 11^th, 26^th and 27^th on 5115 kHz.
Picture credit: Si’ilk...

Media freedom faces "greatest challenge since the Cold War"

Latest update: 06/05/2013 

- Press Release

Media freedom faces "greatest challenge since the Cold War" - 03/05/2013

A group of leading International broadcasters – gathered in the DG5 consortium – declared today that media freedom faces its greatest challenge since the Cold War with Internet blocking, satellite jamming and the return of shortwave jamming.

 

The statement issued on behalf of the representatives of Audiovisuel Extérieur de la France (AEF), Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) [Australia], British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) [United Kingdom], Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG) [US], Deutsche Welle (DW) [Germany], Nippon Hoso Kyokai (NHK) [Japan] and Radio Netherlands Worldwide (RNW), said: “The jamming of satellite broadcasts has become a regular occurrence as regimes seek to block certain services from the being received. This jamming affects area stretching from Northern Europe to Afghanistan and as far south as Northern Africa. We have also seen internet blocking of services and cyber-attacks on media organisations of all over the world, shortwave jamming and disruption and interference with FM broadcasts. Media Freedom has not faced such a concerted campaign of disruption since the end of the Cold War. ”
The broadcasters called on all nations to recognise the legitimate role played by international broadcasts in offering free access to global media and coverage of events.
During the cold war the jamming of radio broadcasts to East of the Iron Curtain was common place. European and US broadcasters worked hard to overcome this in a game of cat and mouse. From the late 1990s digital satellite broadcasting has flourished delivering a wide range of programmes in many languages to communities across the globe. Audiences have been able to benefit from international broadcasts that provide a different perspective on news and cultures.
Increased satellite jamming of FRANCE 24 broadcasts to Iran and Syria stepped up significantly this year and this marks an unwelcome increase of the oldest method of interrupting programmes. The deliberate satellite interference is both extensive and powerful. This is contrary to the international regulations that govern TV satellite broadcasts. RFI’s shortwave broadcasts to Iran in Persian continue to be jammed intermittently, and access to RFI websites continue to be blocked in China.
The AEF is heavily involved in pooling resources with fellow broadcasters and lobbying the satellite industry to stop deliberate interference and achieve media freedom worldwide. This involves seeking both long term and short term technical solutions in order for our content to continue to be received during major political events and crises. Like all the other leading international broadcasters, we are working with the ITU (International Telecommunication Union) and other UN bodies to spread the word about the profound influence that jamming is having on audiences and the industry.
About DG5:
For fifteen years, the DG5 consortium meets once a year and gathers the presidents of the five major international media groups from the Western States (AEF, BBC, BBG, DW, RNW). NHK (Japan) and ABC (Australia) joined the group as observers in 2012. Meetings are also held several times a year between media experts to discuss the wave interferences, the Internet blocking, audience researches, strategies and international distribution.
Watch and listen to the world:
The group in charge of French international broadcasting services comprises three media: the trilingual news TV channel FRANCE 24, the international radio station RFI and the Arabic-language radio Monte Carlo Doualiya. From Paris, they broadcast to the world in 14 languages. The group’s journalists and its unique network of correspondents offer viewers and listeners comprehensive coverage of world events, with a focus on cultural diversity and contrasting viewpoints via news bulletins, reports, magazines and debates. The group has a combined weekly audience of over 90 million listeners and TV viewers and its new media platforms attract 25 million visits a month. The group is also a shareholder and partner of the French-language general interest TV channel TV5MONDE.

A world of shortwave jamming: China vs BBC, Iran vs Farda, Zimbabwe vs VOA, Vietnam vs RFA, Cuba vs WRMI.

A world of shortwave jamming: China vs BBC, Iran vs Farda, Zimbabwe vs VOA, Vietnam vs RFA, Cuba vs WRMI.

Posted: 09 Mar 2013   Print   Send a link

SoundCloud, 28 Feb 2013, Victoribbmonitor, Victor Goonetilleke, Colombo, Sri Lanka: "Jamming against BBC 17790. The clip starts with an 8 element log periodic beamed from Colombo to Aseela Oman and after 25 seconds the beam starts to move eastward and settles on 20 degrees East of North. BBC from the dominant signal drops to almost inaudible level and the jammer comes on top."

Reporters sans frontières, 28 Feb 2013: "Reporters Without Borders condemns the jamming of the BBC World Service’s English-language shortwave radio broadcasts in China. The BBC issued a statement on February 25th deploring this violation of freedom of information and suggesting that the Chinese government was to blame. 'We support the BBC and we urge it to file a legal complaint against persons unknown,' Reporters Without Borders said. 'We recently brought this kind of legal action before the French public prosecutor’s office in connection with acts of piracy targeting Radio Erena, a Paris-based Eritrean exile radio station that broadcasts by satellite to the Horn of Africa. We are convinced that this kind of legal initiative can help to shed light on the exact circumstances of such acts of piracy, that is to say, the place where the jamming originates and the identity of those responsible. We also urge the British authorities to complain to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), which is a UN body. If it turns out that the Chinese authorities ordered the jamming, they must be called to account. It is illegal, it violates fundamental freedoms and it is detrimental to all those in China who speak English.'"

Radio Australia, 8 Mar 2013, Joanna McCarthy: "The Association for International Broadcasting says English-language broadcasts from Radio Australia, the BBC World Service and Voice of America are being deliberately jammed by a number of frequencies. The AIB has lodged protests about the jamming with Chinese embassies in Canberra, Washington DC and London." With audio interview. See also AIB, 6 Mar 2013. Also reported by Advanced Television, 6 Mar 2013 and The Hollywood Reporter, 6 Mar 2013, Patrick Brzeski.

SoundCloud, 8 Mar 2013, iw0hk, Andrea Borgnino, Italy: "Sweep jamming on Radio Farda - 15690 khz." SoundCloud, 8 Mar 2013, iw0hk, Andrea Borgnino, Italy: "Jamming on Voice of America for Zimbabwe - 15775 khz."

YouTube, 5 Mar 2013, OfficialSWL Channel, Gilles Letourneau, Montréal PQ: "Vietnam jamming Radio Free Asia broadcast on 15170 khz."

VOA Radiogram, 9 Mar 2013, "WRMI, Radio Miami International 9 March 2013, 22200 UTC, 9955 kHz, versus Cuban jamming." -- Cuba is jamming WRMI in general, because of its occasional anti-Castro programming, and probably not because of The Overcomer program (in English) that was on at the time. Here's how an ID in the the MT63-2000 mode, transmitted at that time, prints out despite jamming:

Broadcast group condemns China over radio jamming

Broadcast group condemns China over radio jamming

Updated 8 March 2013, 12:02 AEST

An international broadcast association has condemned the deliberate jamming of shortwave broadcasts, including those from the ABC's Radio Australia service, into Asia. 

The Association for International Broadcasting says English-language broadcasts from Radio Australia, the BBC World Service and the Voice of America are being jammed.  (Credit: ABC) 

An international broadcast association has condemned the deliberate jamming of shortwave broadcasts, including those from the ABC's Radio Australia service, into Asia.
The Association for International Broadcasting (AIB) says English-language broadcasts from Radio Australia, the BBC World Service and the Voice of America are being jammed.
Chief Executive Simon Spanswick has told Radio Australia’s Connect Asia program research has indicated the jamming signals appear to be coming from within China.
"It appears to be quite wide," he said.
"We've been talking to some monitors who keep ears on the shortwave bands around Asia and they say that it's certainly audible well outside China.
"So, one imagines, even with the geographic scale of China itself, that this is right across the region."

Audio: Hear the Interference during a broadcast of the Asia Pacific program (ABC News)

The AIB says broadcasts in Mandarin from broadcasters including the BBC, Radio Free Asia and Voice of America have been interfered with for many years.
Mr Spanswick says while the methodology appears to be the same, this is the first time English-language services have been targeted.
"Essentially what you do if you're trying to stop people listening to a program on shortwave is you transmit another audio feed on the same frequency.
"What the Chinese have done for a long time is actually broadcast Chinese folk music...what's happening in this case is that they're transmitting a different sort of noise.
"The aim is to simply make it so uncomfortable to listen to that people switch off and don't bother trying to listen to the program that they wanted to get."
The AIB has lodged protests over the jamming with the Chinese embassies in Washington, London and Canberra.
Mr Spanswick says it's particularly concerning at a time when China is expanding its own international radio and television services.
"They're going global...and nobody is trying to stop them from making available information about what the Chinese Government wants the rest of the world to hear," he said.
"So there's go to be a level playing field...there's a universal right to fair and free information and freedom of speech.
"Jamming is simply so contrary to that sort of notion that it simply can't be allowed to continue."

Iran’s attacks on the BBC

Xindex

Iran’s attacks on the BBC

18 Feb 2013

Staff at the BBC’s Persian Service face satellite jamming, smear campaigns and intimidation, says World Service Director Peter Horrocks

Jamming broadcast signals is a threat to the vital flow of free information. Throughout its history the BBC World Service has countered the efforts of jammers, whether on shortwave or satellites. However, in the last four years there has been a sharp increase in jamming satellite signals around the world with several international broadcasters being targeted.
Intensive interference of our signals started in 2009 at the time of Iran’s presidential election. On Election Day, Iranian authorities started to jam signals of BBC Persian Television, launched only a few months before. Intensive jamming continued in the aftermath of the election during the street protests and violence. For many Iranians, whose access to free media was limited, Persian TV was the main source of news and information.
Since then, the jamming of BBC Persian has continued intermittently. Some incidents have been directly related to specific types of programmes such as audience participation, documentaries or coverage of news events. The latest example of jamming is as recent as 9 February this year when the Iranian government was marking the Islamic Revolution’s anniversary and PTV was taken off-air alongside 13 other broadcasters.
In response, we have increased the number of satellites carrying the channel and technical changes were made to help reduce jamming on the original signal. However, more work needs to be done.
To make any meaningful impact, there is a compelling need for all stakeholders to work closely together in different fields, from technical to regulatory and political, to address the issue of satellite jamming.
That’s why in November 2012 the BBC brought together over 100 delegates from broadcasters, regulators, satellite operators, international organisations and politicians to consider what political and technical steps can be taken to address the growing threat of the blocking of international broadcasts.
This was followed by a very useful event, organised by satellite operator Eutelsat in January 2013, to demonstrate how they geo-locate interference to satellites to provide evidence to the UN recognised agency, International Telecommunication Union. They also unveiled new developments in satellite design which offer more protection on the next generation of satellites. We are pleased to see that our efforts of working closely with the satellite industry have contributed to Eutelsat’s decision to invest in technologies that identify sources of deliberate interference and make jamming more difficult.
We have also been working with other international broadcasters to highlight the impact of jamming on our ability to reach our audiences. We have called on governments and regulatory bodies to put maximum pressure on Iran to stop blocking of international broadcasts. The EU Foreign Affairs Council included jamming of satellite signals in its resolution against human rights violations in Iran in October 2011, and the UN General Assembly took a similar action in December 2011. On 6 February 2013 the United States blacklisted Iran’s state broadcasting authority and a major Iranian electronics producer partly because of their role in jamming international broadcasts to Iran.
It is of utmost importance that the satellite industry takes a united stance on highlighting the issue of jamming. There are still different views on whether publicising incidents of jamming help to find a solution or deteriorates the situation.
Jamming has not been the only tactic used by the Iranian government to restrict free flow of information. BBC Persian staff and their families have been subject to increasing harassment and intimidation by the Iranian authorities over the past few years. Their activities against BBC staff have intensified in recent months. An increasing number of BBC Persian staff family members have been questioned and threatened in an attempt to make our colleagues stop working for the BBC.
Harassment and intimidation of families has been accompanied by a widespread anti-BBC campaign in Iran. Cyber-activists believed to have close links to the Iranian authorities have set up fake Facebook pages and fake blogs attributed to BBC Persian journalists. They are using these fake accounts to discredit the BBC Persian staff by accusing them of sexual promiscuity and spying for MI6. These lies then are reported on a nationwide scale by local media including the state TV.
We remain extremely concerned about these activities. I wrote to the Iranian Head of Judiciary in March 2012 asking him to stop such illegal acts, but there was no reply. We have raised our concerns with the United Nations Special Rapporteur for Human Rights in Iran, Ahmad Shahid, and called on governments to take action to cease such acts.
Peter Horrocks is Director of the BBC World Service

China shrugs off accusations of jamming BBC broadcasts

Officials dismiss corporation's statement condemning blocking of its English-language World Service radio broadcasts

Internet cafe in Beijing: the BBC’s Chinese-language website is often blocked, as were Bloomberg and New York Times last year. Photograph: How Hwee Young/EPA

China has brushed off accusations of jamming the BBC's English-language World Service radio broadcasts a day after the broadcaster announced the interference.
"I don't understand this situation," foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said at a daily press briefing on Tuesday, when asked to comment on the allegations. She said reporters should contact "relevant departments" for further information, but did not specify which departments or how to contact them.
The BBC said on Monday its shortwave radio broadcasts have been jammed in China because of "extensive and co-ordinated efforts" that "are indicative of a well-resourced country such as China".
"The BBC strongly condemns this action which is designed to disrupt audiences' free access to news and information," the corporation said in a statement.
This is not the first time the BBC has encountered some form of interference in China. Its television broadcasts frequently go blank in the middle of sensitive reports. The broadcaster's Chinese-language website is often blocked, and its Chinese-language radio broadcasts have been intermittently jammed for years.
Other international broadcasters such as Voice of America and Radio Free Asia are also jammed in China. Websites of the New York Times and Bloomberg were blocked last year after they published exposés on the wealth accumulated by families of the country's leading politicians.
Some analysts were confused by the timing of the BBC's announcement. "This for me is very weird – it's almost like 1990s," said Michael Anti, a prominent media commentator in Beijing.
He said that in China people associate the BBC with its television dramas and Chinese-language news website, which is blocked but can be accessed using software to bypass internet censors.
"I doubt there is anyone listening to the BBC English radio in China," he added.
BBC journalists were briefly detained last week by Chinese military personnel while filming a nondescript 12-story building in Shanghai that American cyber-security experts have pinpointed as ground zero for a slew of hacking attacks against foreign organisations. The journalists were released after they agreed to surrender their footage.

VOA Condemns Jamming in China

February 27, 2013

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Voice of America condemns the recent start of deliberate interference with its English language shortwave broadcasts into China.
Monitors listening to VOA broadcasts say this interference “appears intentional,” and is strongest in regions around Tibet and along the Indian border.
“The Chinese government has for years jammed VOA and Radio Free Asia Chinese and Tibetan language programs and blocked VOA vernacular language websites,” said VOA Director David Ensor, “but English language programs have historically not been blocked.”
“We condemn this interference and are working with worldwide experts to determine the precise origin of the jamming,” Ensor says.  “The free flow of information is a universal right and VOA will continue to provide accurate and balanced information on platforms that can reach audiences in areas subject to censorship.”
Monitors say the interference affects about 75% of the English language transmissions to China and is similar to the type of jamming aimed at VOA Horn of Africa broadcasts, which are targeted by equipment installed by China in Ethiopia.
Reports of jamming on the VOA shortwave frequencies to China began pouring in earlier this week.  On Monday the BBC issued a statement saying that its English language programs to China were also being jammed.  The BBC statement said the source of the interference could not be determined, but the “extensive and coordinated efforts are indicative of a well-resourced country such as China.”
VOA broadcasts to China on radio, direct-to-home satellite Radio and TV, and the Internet.  News and information is also transmitted on a variety of platforms designed to overcome censorship efforts.