Battle Star North Korea - 72 Hours - Pirate TV

Released in 2024 in North Korea, Battle Star North Korea also known as "72 Hours" was said to be a blockbuster in North Korea and the most expensive movie ever made by Kim Jong-un.

-Movie Plot -
Early on June 25, 1950, 75,000 Korean People’s Army troops attacked, catching the South Korean Army by surprise and starting the Korean War. Three days later, Seoul fell to the Communist North.

But the new hit North Korean movie, “72 Hours,” tells a different story of how the three-year-long conflict started.

Produced by the Propaganda and Agitation Department of the country’s Central Committee, the film has the South attacking first, and the North’s advance to Seoul is part of a counter offensive, a resident of the northeastern province of North Hamgyong told RFA Korean on condition of anonymity for security reasons.

This account falls in line with Pyongyang’s official version of events – that it was the South that provoked the war under the orders of the United States, and that Washington wanted the war as an excuse to send troops to Korea to “conquer” the entire peninsula.

The movie is proving popular, largely because its production quality is higher than most made in North Korea, the resident said.

“People know it is ideological, but it is very entertaining,” the resident said.

Viewers seem enthused about the film even though they know it is propaganda, a resident of the northwestern province of North Pyongan told RFA.

Rare homegrown hit

It was in production for more than two years, and it was made specifically to paint the South Koreans as the enemy, he said.

RFA was not able to confirm the plot or other details about the film, which was released in February.

The movie is proving a rare homegrown hit for North Koreans, many of whom secretly watch South Korean TV shows and movies.

“There are not many North Korean movies worth watching, so residents usually prefer South Korean and foreign movies,” the first resident said.

South Korean and foreign media are smuggled into the country on SD cards and USB flash drives, but distributing or viewing the media is illegal, and citizens have been punished, or even executed, for getting caught watching or selling it.

An estimated 2-3 million Koreans died in the war, and the North ended up with slightly less territory than it had at the start, but North Korea claims it was victorious in what it now refers to as the “Great Fatherland Liberation War.”

At the beginning, though, the rapid advance of the Korean People’s Army suggested that the Communist forces would swiftly defeat the South.

As depicted in the film, Seoul’s first fall – the capital changed hands four times – is an inspiring story of brave men fighting a fierce three-day battle to “liberate” the city, the first resident said.

Pricey tickets

But not everyone can afford to see the movie, he said.

Authorities originally set ticket prices at 18,000 won (US$2.12) when the film was released, he said, an enormous sum that equals about half a month's salary for the lowest paid government-assigned jobs. The price was later cut to 5,000 won (59 U.S. cents).

The film aired on January 1st, 2025 on Korean Central TV and was intercepted by Satellite Pirate TV.