Talks between the US and North Korea collapsed in Sweden on Saturday.

The KCNA propaganda-heavy coverage suggests that almost any statement that differs from the Pyongyang line would be considered fake news. An article yesterday about Korean War commemorations south of the border said that "the South Korean authorities' rhetoric about reconciliation and peace only prove that they are false trumpeting to cover up their dark intention of escalating confrontation".

Russian state media often accuse the West of hypocrisy and hostile plots. After the downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 by a Russian missile in Ukraine in 2014 - which killed 27 Australians - state media deflected blame with a raft of conspiracy theories, and portrayed the Salisbury poisoning accusations as groundless "provocation".

Only Turkmenistan ranked lower than North Korea in the Reporters Without Borders 2019 press freedom index, while Russia came in at 149.

While AP and AFP have Pyongyang bureaus, government minders severely limit reporters' movements.

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Tass said yesterday it hoped to expand its bureau in the country to include a photography desk.

Russia's President Vladimir Putin hosted North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in Vladivostok in April. Keen to be seen as a power broker in the region, Moscow has demanded that the US provide security guarantees in exchange for Pyongyang ramping down its nuclear missile programme.

Telegraph, London