--- title: "That time a US hacker hijacked North Korean propaganda to play ‘the Final Countdown’" date: "2018-05-30" modified: "2020-10-22" authors: - name: "Blake Stilwell" job_title: "Editor-In-Chief, Air Force Veteran" link: "https://www.wearethemighty.com/authors/blake/" url: "https://www.wearethemighty.com/humor/a-patriotic-us-hacker-hijacked-north-korean-propaganda-to-play-the-final-countdown/" categories: - "Entertainment" - "Military News" - "Technology" tags: - "North Korea" --- # That time a US hacker hijacked North Korean propaganda to play ‘the Final Countdown’ ![]() A socially conscious hacker known as "The Jester" put one over on the Democratic People's Republic of Korea recently. To add to his long list of hilarious practical jokes with a social-conscious message, the *hacktivist* hijacked a propaganda-laden North Korean shortwave radio station. --- His request? "[The Final Countdown]()" by the 80s one-hit-wonder Swedish rock band, Europe. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jK-NcRmVcw ([EuropeVEVO]() | YouTube) He announced the feat through [his Twitter account](). In the past, The Jester has taken on jihadist websites, [notably ISIS](). He even [retaliated against the Russian Foreign Ministry]() for attacking American targets, defacing their website with the message: Comrades! We interrupt regular scheduled Russian Foreign Affairs Website programming to bring you the following important message," he wrote. "Knock it off. You may be able to push around nations around you, but this is America. Nobody is impressed. While no one knows who he is, The Jester is a [self-proclaimed patriot hacker](), who thinks Anonymous is a bunch of "blowhards" whose work amounts to a "hill of beans." Evidence in The Jester's work makes people believe he is either a military veteran or former military contractor — he even leaves a calling card for his work: "Tango Down." Either way, he's on our side. A god among us has hijacked 6400kHz (North Korean station) and is playing the Final Countdown [https://t.co/rPJ1aEccUs]() — JΞSŦΞR ✪ ΔCŦUΔL³³º¹ (@th3j35t3r) [November 9, 2017]() The North Korean radio station hit by The Jester is used to broadcast coded messages and often used as a warning post for outside media before the regime does something provocative. It also re-broadcasts programming from the appropriately-named Pyongyang Broadcasting Station... aka "Pyongyang BS." ## Author Blake Stilwell is We Are The Mighty's Editor-in-Chief, covering military news, entertainment, and history, along with veteran education, employment and entrepreneurship. He is a former U.S. Air Force combat cameraman with degrees in Graphic Design, Television and Film, International Relations, Public Relations, Business Management and Middle Eastern Affairs. After leaving the military, he began working in film and television production in New York and Los Angeles, work that included ABC News, NBC Olympics, and HBO Sports. He then spent two years in Washington with White House Communications, before joining the Near East Foundation. At NEF he served as an International Development Fellow, then Communications Officer, and finally, Media Officer for the Middle East and Africa. Based in the Palestinian Territory, he coordinated strategic communications between eight country offices, international media, and government and NGO partners. He began a career focused on writing and editing in 2015 with We Are The Mighty. He left in 2019 for Military.com, but returned as Editor-in-Chief in 2025. Blake’s work has been seen on CBS News, Fox News, CBC, The Chicago Tribune, Task & Purpose, Military Times, Recoil, Skillset, American History, and was shockingly even used in a Supreme Court argument. He is an avid traveler and small business owner in Ohio, where he spends most of his energy fixing up a very old house. ### Author social links [Facebook]() [Twitter]() [Instagram]() [LinkedIn]()