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North Korea mulls broadcasting BBC shows

North Korea is reportedly considering whether to air BBC programs on its tightly-controlled state TV after months of negotiations with the British government.

North Korean authorities have selected three BBC shows -- science-fiction series “Dr. Who,” “Top Gear,” a show about motor vehicles, and preschool children’s show “Teletubbies” -- that the state is willing to consider showing its people, U.K. newspaper the Independent reported Sunday.

The decision came after BBC took the initiative last year with support from the Foreign Office to draw up a list of programs to sell to its state broadcaster. At the time, Foreign Secretary William Hague hailed the deal and said it was “a good way to improve understanding about the outside world within such a closed society.”

Sources from BBC Worldwide, the corporation’s commercial arm, said negotiations were in the early stages. It refused to comment further on the details until an official contract was signed.

The agreement between the broadcasters is expected to include giving Pyongyang the right to edit ideologically improper elements of U.K. programs.

“Extensive inquiries have been made about what the three shows involve and if they would be suitable for the North Korean people,” a Pyongyang insider was quoted as saying by the media.

The British Embassy in Pyongyang helped facilitate contact between the BBC and authorities of North’s state broadcaster Korean Central Television.

Korean Central Television airs for 6 1/2 hours every day and the most popular show on the channel is the long-running comedy “It’s so Funny,” in which two actors wearing army uniforms praise the greatness of North Korea’s leader.

Last year, North Korea publicly executed 80 people by firing squad for watching or smuggling South Korean television programs. Experts said the North’s harsh punishment was to forestall public unrest and the spread of capitalism.

By Park Han-na and news report(hnpark@heraldcorp.com)