Recent incidents, including the explosion of a North Korean landmine in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) and the repatriation of North Korean prisoners of war held in Ukraine, have led to a dramatic increase in North Korea-related coverage by South Korean media outlets, which had shown little interest in the North for some time. The reason is that the strong geopolitical backing from China and Russia provides Pyongyang with the leverage to dismiss Seoul’s concerns and diplomatic pressures, effectively tuning out South Korea’s traditional appeals.