美联社在朝鲜首都平壤开设分社，成为第一个从这个与世隔绝的国家以文字、图片和影像专职报道新闻的国际通讯机构。美联社平壤分社星期一成立，距离朝鲜长期执政的领导人金正日去世不到一个月时间。此前曾经历了大约一年的谈判。美联社社长兼首席执行官汤姆·柯利说，分社将让美联社在朝鲜的“关键历史时刻”以跨媒体平台的方式记录下这个国家的“人民、地方和政治”。柯利说，平壤分社将按美联社全球分社的相同标准操作。
分社的建立扩大了美联社在朝鲜的工作。朝鲜仍然禁止大部分国际记者进驻。2006年，美联社成为第一个在平壤开设影像部门的国际新闻机构。朝鲜中央通讯社社长星期一说，美联社开设分社“意义重大”。美联社朝鲜分社由两名朝鲜当地人任职，两名有丰富国际经验的美国记者将监管他们的工作。这两名美国人还将训练当地记者。
The Associated Press has opened a bureau in the North Korean capital, Pyongyang, becoming the first international news organization with a full-time presence to cover news from the reclusive nation in words, pictures and videos. AP opened the office Monday, after almost a year of negotiations and less than a month after the death of longtime ruler Kim Jong Il. AP President and CEO Tom Curley says the organization's newest bureau allows the news agency to "document the people, places and politics" of North Korea across all media platforms at a "critical moment in its history." Curley says the Pyongyang bureau will operate under the same standards and practices as AP bureaus worldwide.
The bureau expands AP's presence in North Korea, which has remained largely off-limits to international journalists. In 2006, AP was the first international news organization to open a video bureau in Pyongyang. The president of the state-run Korean Central News Agency said Monday the opening of the AP office was "significant." AP's North Korean office will be staffed by two natives of North Korea who will be supervised by two American journalists with broad international experience. The Americans will also train local reporters.
