"'Squid Game' makes people realize the sad reality of the beastly South Korean society in which human beings are driven into extreme competition, and their humanity is wiped out," read the Arirang Meari article, penned by an unnamed author

The North's praise of the drama, however, overlooks the fact that "Squid Game" features the tragic story of Kang Sae-byeok, a North Korean defector who goes to extreme lengths to guarantee a better future for herself and the surviving members of her family

Reuters reported last February that several North Korean media outlets commended Academy Award-winning South Korean film "Parasite," lauding the movie for exposing the reality of the rich-poor gap in South Korea.