蜜芽传媒

Tony Grant presents personal stories, wit and analysis from 蜜芽传媒 correspondents around the world. Today, Lucy Williamson examines how North and South Korea are using new tactics in communications technology to spread their message, while Paul Adams reflects on how country music depicts the travails of the US economy.

Message in a balloon

Developments in electronic communications are often depicted, at least in the West, as unalloyed forces for good. But in North Korea it can seem as if this technological revolution never happened. This is a country where you'll struggle to find an internet connection, an international phone call is a restricted privilege and even reading a foreign magazine requires security clearance.

Yet it's not quite as hermetically sealed off from the rest of the world as we may think - and Lucy Williamson says its leaders have realised that even the humble text message can work for them, too.

Country music and its fans: often scorned, but always resilient

The country music genre has long featured hard-luck stories of broken relationships, small town life and personal struggle. But Paul Adams has been finding out that since America's economy nosedived three years ago, the musicians have also been engaging with subjects like the recession and unemployment.

He visited Hartford, Connecticut to talk to country star Toby Keith and his legions of fans about what makes the music so durable.