NKSC- North Korea Media and IT Infrastructure Report

Transcription

North Korea
Media and IT
Infrastructure
Report
2015
North Korea Strategy Center
#918, 86 (Vabien III), Tongil-ro, Jung-gu
Seoul, Korea 100-783
+82 2 720 8035
en.nksc.co.kr
TABLE OF CONTENTS
I.
INTRODUCTION
1
1.
Identifying the Problem
1
2.
Research Methodology
1
a. Research Methodology and Objectives
1
b. Research Target
2
II.
CELL PHONES
11
1.
Cell Phone Availability
11
2.
Actual Cell Phone Usage
16
COMPUTERS AND LAPTOPS
42
1.
Supply Status
42
2.
Actual Laptop and Computer Usage
45
3.
Control Regulation on Computer/Laptop Usage
65
III.
IV.
EXTERNAL STORAGE DEVICES
69
1.
USB
69
2.
SD Cards
74
3.
CD-R, DVD
80
4.
Storage Device Usage Controls
82
V.
RADIO AND OTHER VIDEO DEVICES
86
VI.
IMPACT OF EXTERNAL INFORMATION ON NORTH KOREANS’ PERCEPTION
AND UNDERSTANDING
93
VII.
CONCLUSION
98
1.
North Korea IT Infrastructure and Citizen Usage
98
2.
Usage of IT and how it is Changing North Korean Society
101
LIST OF TABLES
Table 1.1
Table 1.2
Table 2.1
Table 2.2
Table 2.3
Table 2.4
Table 2.5
Table 2.6
Table 2.7
Table 2.8
Table 2.9
Table 2.10
Table 2.11
Table 2.12
Table 2.13
Table 2.14
Table 2.15
Table 2.16
Table 2.17
Table 2.18
Table 2.19
Table 2.20
Table 2.21
Table 2.22
Table 2.23
Table 2.24
Table 2.25
Table 2.26
Table 2.27
Table 2.28
Table 2.29
Table 2.30
Table 2.31
Table 2.32
Table 2.33
Table 2.34
2
Demographic of Interviewees: Survey
Demographic of Interviewees: In-depth Interview
Landline Phone Subscribers
Wireless Phone Subscribers
Cell Phone Usage by Length of Time
Cell Phone Manufacturing Countries
Cell Phones by Types and Manufacturing Countries
Cell Phones by Previous Condition: New or Used
Motivation for Cell Phone Usage
Specific Business-Related Purposes of Cell Phone Usage
Telecommunication Subscription Fee
Routes to Cell Phone Purchase
Required Documents to Purchase Cell Phone
Required Personal Information to Purchase Cell Phone
Waiting Period for Cell Phone Purchase Approval
Restrictions on Purchasing Cell Phone
Cell Phone Call Purposes
Cell Phone Text Message Purposes
Average Hours of Cell Phone Calls Per Day
Purposes of Cell Phone Usage
Experience of Cell Phone Endorsement
Base Station System for Cell Phone
Communication System of Cell Phone
Cell Phone Manufacturing Factories and Companies
Cell Phone Sales Related Institutions
Telecommunication Subscription Related Institutions/Professions
Geographic Areas Available for Cell Phone Calls
Quality of Cell Phone Calls
Complaints about Quality of Cell Phone Calls
Areas with Problematic Quality of Cell Phone Calls
Cell Phone Repair Methods
Cell Phone Upgrade Experience
Cell Phone Accessories by Types
Cell Phone Tapping by the State Security Department and the Police
Mandatory Cell Phone Restricted Areas
Reasons for Penalties from Cell Phone Censorship
North Korea IT and Media report| North Korea Strategy Center
2
7
12
13
18
18
19
20
21
21
23
24
25
26
26
27
28
28
29
29
32
33
33
33
34
34
34
35
36
36
37
37
37
38
40
41
Table 2.35
Table 2.36
Table 3.1
Table 3.2
Table 3.3
Table 3.4
Table 3.5
Table 3.6
Table 3.7
Table 3.8
Table 3.9
Table 3.10
Table 3.11
Table 3.12
Table 3.13
Table 3.14
Table 3.15
Table 3.16
Table 3.17
Table 3.18
Table 3.19
Table 3.20
Table 3.21
Table 3.22
Table 3.23
Table 3.24
Table 3.25
Table 3.26
Table 3.27
Table 3.28
Table 3.29
Table 3.30
Table 3.31
Table 4.1
Table 4.2
Table 4.3
Table 4.4
Table 4.5
Primary/Secondary Experience of Penalties from Cell Phone Censorship
Measures Taken to Avoid Controls on Cell Phone
North Korea IT Industries by Categories
Systematization and Institutionalization of North Korean IT Education
Purposes of Computer/Laptop Usage (5 most frequent uses)
Operating Systems for Computer/Laptop
Central Processing Unit of Computer/Laptop
Programs Used on Computer/Laptop
Computers by Manufactured Countries
Second-hand Computers
Computers by Size of Internal Memory
Channels of Computer Purchase
Channels of Laptop Purchase
Laptops by Manufacturing Countries
Laptops by Previous Condition: New or Used
Laptops by Size of Internal Memory
Computer Accessories by Type
Mouses by Type
Electric Power Supply for Computers/Laptops
Experience/Methods of Computer/Laptop Upgrade
Methods of Computer/Laptop Repair
Experience of Computer Endorsement: TV
Broadcasts and Propaganda
Experience of Computer Endorsement: Slogans and Speeches
Experience of Internet Usage
Experience of Intranet Usage
Period of Intranet Usage
Geographic Areas Available for Intranet
Communication System of Intranet
Intranet Speed
Applications of Intranet
Experience of Email Usage in Intranet
Experience of Email Surveillance in Intranet
Causes of Penalties from Computer/Laptop/USB/SD Card Censorship
Experience of USB Usage
USBs by Manufactured Countries
USBs by Previous Condition: New or Used
USBs by Size of Memory
Channels of USB Purchase
41
41
42
44
46
49
50
51
52
53
53
54
54
55
55
55
56
56
57
58
58
59
60
60
60
61
61
62
62
62
65
65
67
70
71
71
71
72
Table 4.6
Table 4.7
Table 4.8
Table 4.9
Table 4.10
Table 4.11
Table 4.12
Table 4.13
Table 4.14
Table 4.15
Table 4.16
Table 4.17
Table 4.18
Table 4.19
Table 4.20
Table 4.21
Table 4.22
Table 4.23
Table 4.24
Table 5.1
Table 5.2
Table 5.3
Table 5.4
Table 5.5
Table 5.6
Table 5.7
Table 6.1
Table 6.2
Table 6.3
Table 6.4
4
Purposes of USB Usage
Experience of USB Censorship
Experience of SD Card Usage
Purposes of SD Card Usage (5 most frequent uses)
Electronic Equipment for SD Card Usage
Persons with Whom the SD Card Contents Were Shared
SD Cards by Size of Memory
Channels of SD Card Purchase
Channels of SD Card Reader Purchase
Channels of SD Card Acquisition with Foreign Media Contents
Experience of SD Card Censorship
Causes of Penalties from SD Card Censorship
Penalties from SD Card Censorship
Measures Taken to Avoid SD Card Censorship
Frequency of CD-R/DVD Usage
Purposes of CD-R/DVD Usage
Channels of CD-R/DVD Acquisition with Foreign Media Contents
Causes of Penalties from USB Censorship
Experienced Processes of Penalty from USB Censorship
Listened Radio Frequencies
Types of Radio Sets
Preferred Radio Frequencies
Time Slots for Radio Frequencies
Persons with Whom the Participants Listened to Radio Broadcasts
Persons with Whom the Radio Broadcast Contents Were Shared
Frequency of Exposure to Foreign Information
Media Used for Collection of Foreign Information
Geographic Locations Where Foreign Information was Collected
Subjects with Whom the Broadcasts and Videos was Shared
72
73
75
76
76
77
77
77
78
78
78
79
79
79
80
81
81
83
84
88
88
89
90
90
90
91
94
94
95
95
I.
INTRODUCTION
1.
Identifying the Problem
North Korea recently established the Science and Technology Hall (a
communication and information service center for teachers, scientists, and technicians
without access to the internet) with the goal of becoming a powerful and
technologically advanced nation through increased IT capabilities. While most IT
industries are related to ‚information‛ and ‚technology‛, North Korea’s IT industry's
competitiveness stems from its manufacturing capacities in international production
chains. As such, it can be expected that IT production capacities in North Korea will be
strengthened. Additionally, considering the growth of wireless communication and
other IT communication services in the country, there is recognizable potential for North
Korea to pro-mote more IT in the country.
In the case of South Korea, the IT industry rose throughout the 2000s. This can be
attributed to the country’s national competitiveness, industrial developments, and
structural acceleration. As IT usage grew in South Korea, production increased
accordingly. Many countries create IT development policies for the purpose of
strengthening their industrial force by investing in innovation which ‚assures the
foundations a country’s future growth.‛ Similarly, North Korea seeks to conform to the
current IT global trends. However, there are still many restrictions that limit the usage of
IT devices by North Koreans and their ability to apply it to their daily lives. Restrictions
are particularly heavy where external information is more accessible. This report gauges
the extent and level at which IT devices such as cell phones, computers, storage devices,
and media are being used by North Koreans in an environment where external
information is completely restricted and controlled by the government.
2.
Research Methodology
a.
Research Methodology and Objectives
The primary purpose of this report is to accurately assess the use of cell phones,
computers, external storage devices, and other IT devices by North Koreans under
current conditions of social and media control. These findings will identify the IT media
and features that most effectively transmit outside information within the country. This
research was done through surveys of and interviews with North Korean defectors. The
literature review consists of existing survey results and research on cell phones,
North Korea IT and Media Report | North Korea Strategy Center
1
computers, and storage devices as well as articles from ‚Rimjin-gang‛ (Asia Press), a
newspaper written by undercover journalists inside North Korea.
A total of 50 people took a preliminary survey and 34 North Korean defectors
residing in South Korea were interviewed in detail. Research based on North Korean
defector interviews used to assess the media and IT infrastructure is not common.
However, given the limited information provided by the North Korean government, it is
the best available approach with which to do so. Moreover, oral testimonies can also
provide an understanding of changes in people’s thoughts and consciousness. By
surveying 50 defectors, the current IT situation and trends were identified, and more
detailed examples were deduced through in-depth interviews.
Research Target
b.
Surveys and interviews were conducted from August 2014 to May 2015 with
North Korean defectors that had experience using cell phones, computers, and external
storage devices. The interviewees consisted mainly of young people who recently
defected and were responsive to new trends. The interviews took place at NKSC’s offices
and took from two to three hours. Specific questions such as where IT devices were
bought, prices, application processes, purpose of use, specific performances, or possible
restriction cases were asked.
Table 1.1
Demographic of Interviewees: Survey
No.
Birth
Year
Age
Year of
Entrance
Highest Level
of Education
1.
1989
20s
2014
University
2.
1988
20s
2009
Middle School
3.
1992
20s
2013
High School for
Profession
University
1991
4.
2
20s
2011
Area of
Residence
North
Hamgyung
Province
North
Hamgyung
Province
Occupation
Self-Identified
Social Class
N/A
Middle
Technicial
Middle
N/A
N/A
Lower
North
Hamgyung
Province
Teacher
Middle
5.
1991
20s
2014
University
South
Hamgyung
Province
6.
1991
20s
2010
University
Ryanggang
Province
7.
N/A
N/A
2013
University
8.
1990
20s
2012
Middle School
9.
1991
20s
2011
Middle School
10.
1988
20s
2010
University
11.
1996
20s
2013
Middle School
12.
1988
20s
2010
University
13.
1988
20s
2012
Ph.D Candidate
14.
1990
20s
2012
University
15.
1991
20s
2012
Middle School
16.
1993
20s
2013
17.
1979
20s
2011
18.
1994
30s
2012
High School for
Profession
High School for
Profession
Middle School
Clerk
Lower Middle
Student
Middle
Service
Worker
Lower, Middle
Salesperson
Upper Middle
Technician
Middle
Student
Middle
N/A
Middle
N/A
Lower Middle
Clerk
Middle
Student
Upper Middle
N/A
Upper Middle
N/A
Student
Lower Middle
N/A
N/A
Lower Middle
South
Pyongyang
Province
N/A
Lower, Middle
North
Hamgyung
Province
South
Hamgyung
Province
Hwanghae
Province
North
Hamgyung
Province
N/A
North
Hamgyung
Province
North
Hamgyung
Province
North
Pyongyang
Province
North
Hamgyung
Province
3
1991
19.
20s
2012
High School for
Profession
South
Pyongyang
Province
Hwanghae
Province
Pyongyang
City
North
Hamgyung
Province
20.
1943
70s
2011
High School for
Profession
21.
1956
50s
2011
High School for
Profession
22.
1993
20s
2013
Middle School
23.
1990
20s
2011
High School for
Profession
24.
1970
40s
2012
High School for
Profession
25.
1991
20s
2014
High School for
Profession
26.
1982
30s
2010
University
27.
1994
20s
2010
Middle School
28.
1968
40s
2013
Middle School
29.
1975
40s
2011
Middle School
30.
1983
30s
2011
Middle School
31.
1989
20s
2013
High School for
Profession
32.
1990
20s
2012
Middle School
4
N/A
North
Hamgyung
Province
North
Hamgyung
Province
North
Hamgyung
Province
North
Hamgyung
Province
North
Hamgyung
Province
South
Hamgyung
Province
Ryanggang
Province
North
Hamgyung
Province
North
N/A
Lower Middle
Service
Worker
Middle
Salesperson
Middle
Teacher
Middle
Clerk
Upper Middle
N/A
Lower Middle
N/A
Lower Middle
N/A
Middle
Student
Middle
N/A
Lower Middle
N/A
Lower
Clerk
Lower Middle
Clerk
Middle
Service
Upper Middle
33.
1986
20s
2013
High School for
Profession
34.
1990
20s
2014
Middle School
35.
1994
20s
2013
University
36.
1993
20s
2014
University
37.
1990
20s
2011
High School for
Profession
38.
1989
20s
2010
High School for
Profession
39.
1985
30s
2011
High School for
Profession
40.
1983
30s
2011
Middle School
41.
1992
20s
2012
Middle School
42.
1993
20s
2013
Middle School
43.
1991
20s
2012
University
44.
1990
20s
2011
Middle School
45.
1970
40s
N/A
University
Hamgyung
Province
North
Hamgyung
Province
North
Hamgyung
Province
North
Hamgyung
Province
Ryanggang
Province
North
Hamgyung
Province
North
Hamgyung
Province
North
Hamgyung
Province
North
Hamgyung
Province
Hwanghae
Province
Kangwon
Province
Ryanggang
Province
Pyongyang
City
North
Hamgyung
Province
Worker
Salesperson
Middle
Clerk
Middle
Student
Upper Middle
Student
Lower Middle
Technician
Lower Middle
Service
Worker
Middle
N/A
Middle
Technician
Middle
Service
Worker
Lower Middle
N/A
Middle
Student
Upper Middle
Soldier
Middle
Service
Worker
Middle
5
46.
1984
30s
2014
University
47.
1990
20s
2011
University
48.
1991
20s
2010
Middle School
49.
1994
20s
2012
University
2013
Elementary
School
1993
50.
20s
Kangwon
Province
Pyongyang
City
North
Hamgyung
Province
Soldier
Middle
N/A
Upper Middle
Student
Lower
N/A
N/A
Middle
North
Hamgyung
Province
N/A
Lower
Out of the 50 interviewees 74% (34) of interviewees were in their 20s. The next
highest age range was 12% (6) of interviewees who were in their 30s.1 Although most of
the data collected was from persons who defected in 2011 to 2013, six interviewees
entered South Korea in 2014.2 36% (17) of the interviewees graduated from middle
school and 30% (14) graduated from either in high school, technical school, or college.3
The majority of the people, 59% (26), resided in North Hamgyong province and only 7%
(3) were from Pyongyang.4 Reported occupations in North Korea are mainly office jobs,
service industry, technicians and government officers, and students. A total of 48% (24)
considered themselves to be upper-middle class and 28% (14) considered themselves to
be lower-middle class.5
1
20s 74%(37), 30s 12%(6), 40s 8%(4), 50s 2%(1), 70s 2%(1), None of the above 2% (1)
In 2009: 1 person, 2010: 7 people, 2011: 13 people, 2012: 11 people, 2013: 11 people, 2014: 6 people,
None of the above: 1 person
3
Middle School 36%(17), High School 30%(14), University 30%(14), Above College 2%(1), None of the
above 2%(1)
4
Pyongyang 7%(3), Gangwon province 4%(2), Ryanggang province 9%(4), Hwanghae province 7%(3),
South Pyongan province 5%(2), North Pyongan province 2%(1), South Hamgyong province 7%(3), North
Hamgyong province 59%(26)
5
Above average 16%(8), Average 48%(24), Below average 28%(14), Low 8%(4)
2
6
Table 1.2
Demographic of Interviewees: In-depth Interview
Birth
Year
Age
Year of
Defection
Year of
Entrance
N/A
50s
2013
2013
I-2.
N/A
20s
2011
2011
I-3.
1987
20s
2010
2010
I-4.
N/A
20s
2009
2010
I-5.
1989
20s
2013
2013
No.
I-1.
I-6.
I-7.
1991
1988
20s
20s
2010
2010
Highest Level of
Education
Occupation
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
Middle School
Farm Worker
University (2nd
Year)
Student
University
Student
2011
North
Hamgyung
Province
Hoeryong
Middle School
Student
2011
North
Hamgyung
Province
Onsong
Middle School
Storm Trooper
Middle School
Student
University
Kindergarten
Teacher
Middle School
Factory Worker
I-8.
1995
20s
2013
2013
I-9.
1991
20s
2011
2011
I-10.
1990
20s
2013
2013
Area of
Residence
North
Hamgyung
Province
Musan
Rajin
South
Hwanghae
Province
Haeju
Ryanggang
Province
Hyesan
North
Hamgyung
Province
Chongjin
Ryanggang
Province
Hyesan
Ryanggang
Province
Hyesan
North
Hamgyung
7
I-11.
1996
20s
2013
2013
I-12.
1990
20s
2009
2010
I-13.
N/A
20s
2013
2013
I-14.
1966
50s
2006
2010
I-15.
1994
20s
2013
2015
I-16.
N/A
40s
2013
2013
I-17.
1974
40s
2013
2013
I-18.
1960
50s
2013
2013
I-19.
N/A
N/A
2013
2013
I-20.
1988
20s
2009
2009
I-21.
1968
40s
2013
2013
8
Province
Hoeryong
Ryanggang
Province
Hyesan
Ryanggang
Province
Hyesan
Ryanggang
Province
Sinpa
North
Hamgyung
Province
Chongjin
South
Pyongyang
Province
Soonchun
Ryanggang
Province
Hyesan
North
Hamgyung
Province
Musan
North
Hamgyung
Province Kilju
North
Hamgyung
Province
Musan
North
Hamgyung
Province
Onsong
North
Middle School
Student
Middle School
Student
University for
Profession
Student
University for
Profession
Men’s Clothing
designer
Middle School
(8th Grade)
Student
N/A
N/A
Middle School
Support
Provider
Middle School
Salesperson
Middle School
(9th Grade)
Farmer
University (1st
Year)
Clerk
Middle School
N/A
I-22.
1989
20s
2013
2013
I-23.
1986
30s
2013
2013
I-24.
1990
20s
2013
2014
I-25.
1994
20s
2013
2013
I-26.
1993
20s
2013
2014
I-27.
1990
20s
2011
2011
I-28.
1990
20s
2012
2013
Hamgyung
Province
Hoeryong
North
Hamgyung
High School for
Province
Profession
Hoeryong
North
Hamgyung
High School for
Province
Profession
Hoeryong
North
Hamgyung
Middle School
Province
Hoeryong
North
Hamgyung
University
Province
Chongjin
Ryanggang
Province
University
Hyesan
North
Hamgyung High School
Province
for Profession
Hoeryong
North
Hamgyung
University
Province
Chongjin
I-29.
1990
20s
2012
2012
North
Hamgyung
Province
Hamhung
I-30.
1991
20s
2014
2014
North
Hamgyung
Clerk
Salesperson
Clerk
Student
Student
Student
Service
Worker
Middle
School
Salesperson
High School
for Profession
N/A
9
I-31.
1969
40s
N/A
2013
I-32.
1987
20s
N/A
2013
I-33.
N/A
40s
N/A
2013
I-34.
1989
20s
N/A
2013
Province
Hoeryong
North
Hamgyung
Province
Hoeryong
North
Hamgyung
Province
Hoeryong
North
Hamgyung
Province
Hoeryong
North
Hamgyung
Province
Hoeryong
N/A
Teacher
N/A
Photograph
er
N/A
Middle
school
teacher;
smuggler
N/A
N/A
Looking at the personal information of the 34 people interviewed, the majority,
70% (24), were in their 20s and 15% (5) were in their 40s. 6 Mainly, the participants left
North Korea between 2006 and 2015, but out of the 34 participants, 16 had departed
North Korea in 2013.7 The majority of the participants were from North Hamgyong
province as 65% (22), and 23% (8) of them were from Ryanggang Province.8 The
majority of the people, 41% (14), had only graduated middle school,9 and worked as
farmers and laborers, businessmen, salesmen, teachers, students, majority of them were
students.
There are some distinguishing characteristics of the pool of interviewees in this
research: First, a high ratio of participants were in their 20s. This is explained by the fact
that younger people tend to accept and adapt quicker to changing environments and
are more receptive to new technology such as cell phones and computers. Moreover,
compared to older generations, younger people were more suited for the research
because they used different technologies for various purposes. Second, most of the
6
20s 70%(24), 30s 3%(1), 40s 15%(5), 50s 9%(3), None of the above 3%(1)
In 2006: 1 person, 2009: 3 people, 2010: 1 person, 2011: 5 people, 2012: 2 people, 2013: 16 people, 2014:
1 person, 2015: 1 person, None of the above: 4 people
8
Rajin 3%(1), Ryanggang province 23%(8), South Pyongan province 3%(1), South Hamgyong province
3%(1), North Hamgyong province 65%(22), South Hwanghae province 3%(1)
9
Middle School 41%(14), College 6%(2), University 20%(7), High School 12%(4), None of the above 21%(7)
7
10
participants were from the upper-middle class, leaving room for discussion as to
whether they accurately reflect the typical lives of all North Koreans. Third, amongst the
participants, only one of them has left North Korea due to political threats. Most of the
participants left North Korea for freedom and to improve their living conditions.
Notwithstanding, there are some limitations in the results of the interview. The
majority (70%) of the interviewees were from North Hamgyong Province; thus the
results mostly reflect this region. Additionally, most of the interviewees considered
themselves to be upper middle class meaning that they naturally had more access to IT
and media compared to the lower class.
II.
CELL PHONES
1.
Cell Phone Availability
The first cell phone was introduced in North Korea in 1988 when Thailand’s
Loxley Pacific and the joint company of the North Korean Shipbuilding company, North
East Asia Telephone and Telegraph Corporation (NEAT&T), installed 1,500 radio circuits
and 500 mobile phone circuits in the Rason Special Economic Zone. They additionally
installed a communications base station in Pyongyang and started a mobile
telecommunication service in the cities of Pyongyang and Rason in November of 2002.
In September of 2003, North Korea established an estimated 40 telecommunication
stations and began several telecommunication services in Pyongyang and central
regions of each province.10
Despite North Korea’s plan to establish mobile communication services
throughout its territory by 2007,11 personal mobile use was prohibited due to an
explosion at Ryongchun station on April 2004 that delayed those plans. Since then, by
cooperating with Egyptian telecommunications company Orascom with a 25:75 joint
investment, the North Korean communications company founded Koryolink, a 3G
telecommunications company, and began its commercial services during mid-December
of 2008. Koryolink established a 114-mobile telephone station and a telephone
exchange station12, thus laying a cornerstone for digitalization in North Korea as 3G
mobile communication was established throughout the nation in 2011.13
10
Communication available areas are Pyongyang-Wonsan, Pyongyang-Kaesong, Pyongyang-Hyangsan,
Pyongyang-Nampo, Wonsan-Hamhung, etc. Korea Finance Corporation, "The North Korea Industry", p.
638.
11
"North Korea's Potential for Industrial Development and Tasks of South-North Cooperation", p. 215.
12
Korea Finance Corporation, "The North Korea Industry", p. 638.
13
"North Korea's Potential for Industrial Development and Tasks of South-North Cooperation", p. 215.
11
From November 2002 to December 2003, the number of mobile phone subscribers
increased significantly from 3,000 to 20,000 users.14 According to ITU’s formal statistics,
there was a subscription rate increase of 191% from 2009 to 2012. This was influenced
greatly by Orascom’s investments and the North Korean government’s membership
expansion efforts.15
Despite the expectation that North Korean telecommunication services would
only be available to elites, there are currently around two million subscribers, and
Koryolink-related businesses are booming. Since the end of the third quarter of 2011,
telecommunication services were available in Pyongyang and about 100 other cities,
covering 14% of North Korean territory with 94% of the population hypothetically
having access to service.16
Being that at least one million of North Korea’s 24 million people are soldiers that
are prohibited from using mobile phones for security reasons, many experts have
questioned statistics presented by Koryolink17 that state there are two million North
Korean people using mobile phones. Also, according to North Korean law, children
under the age of 10 cannot legally own a mobile phone. According Orascom only one
out of ten North Korean people are using a mobile phone. However, it is possible that
some members of Koryolink possess two or more phones for personal and business
use.18
Table 2.1
Year
2000
Subscribe
rs (# of
1000
people)
Landline Phone Subscribers
00
01
02
03
04
05
06
07
08
09
10
11
12
500
860
916
980
1000
1000
1000
1180
1180
1180
1180
1180
1180 1180
14
"Tongilnews‛, 2014.03.23.
"North Korea's Potential for Industrial Development and Tasks of South-North Cooperation", pp. 215216.
16
Yonho, Kim, "Cell Phones in North Korea", KDI Review of the North Korean Economy, 2014.03, p. 58.
17
The communication method is called, "W-CDMA", which is the same as the one in Japan, China, and
South Korea, and it uses SIM cards. Orascom reported that around 2012 Koryolink was providing service
to 94% of North Korea's inhabited areas, and it had a market share of 100%. "Latest North Korea Digital IT
Assessment Report(1)", Imjin River, 2012.08.07.
18
"Cell Phones in North Korea", KDI Review of the North Korean Economy, 2014.03, p. 61.
15
12
13
#
of
Subscribe
rs per 100
people
2.19
3.73
3.94
4.18
4.23
4.2
4.17
4.89
4.87
4.84
4.82
4.79
4.77
4.74
Reference: ITU Statistics, ICT World Fixed-Telephone Subscription
Table 2.2
Subscribers
(# of people)
# of Subscribers
per 100 people
Wireless Phone Subscribers
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
69261
431919
1000000
1700000
2420000
0.28
1.76
4.06
6.87
9.72
Reference: ITU Statistics, ICT World Mobile-Cellular Subscription
Statistics provided by international organizations on fixed and mobile phone
subscriptions show that 4.74 people out of 100 are fixed-telephone subscribers and 9.72
people out of 10 are mobile-cellular subscribers. After 2011, the number of mobile
phone users had surpassed fixed-telephone subscribers. Koryolink’s industry is
continuously expanding and mobile phone usage is clearly a rising trend in North Korea.
The phone subscription process in North Korea is very complicated. Those who
want to subscribe need to visit a major city’s Communications Technology Management
Office - or a branch located in a smaller city - and complete an application form. On the
application, one must to provide the application date, applicants name, SIM card, phone
number, IMEI number (phone’s serial number), subscription date, and licensor's name.
On the bottom of the form it states the following: ‚It is required for Security workers and
Prosecutors to obtain assigned security confirmation from their superiors.‛19
Due to bureaucratic inefficiency and corruption, it is arduous for common
people to complete an application. Applicants who are not a part of the elite or lack
connections with the Communications Technology Management Office need to pay a
processing fee in foreign currency to an employee. Even if the applicant completes the
form, he or she needs a confirmation from either their working office or the regional
administration office, in addition to confirmation from the State Security Department or
the regional security service office. After gaining confirmation from all offices, the
applicant needs to turn the form back into the Communications Technology
Management Office, a month after which the application process is complete.
19
"Latest North Korea Digital IT Assessment Report(2)", Imjin River, 2012.10.12.
13
Due to this strict application process, many North Korean citizens use fake
identities when applying. However, if an applicant applies through a broker that works
closely with the Communications Technology Management Office or one of its branches,
the process may be shortened to one or two days. Brokers that do such business usually
register numerous phones with fake IDs and sell these products with a higher price than
the ones offered by the North Korean Shipbuilding Company. This is illegal in North
Korea, but as the demand for mobile phones increases, it is becoming more common.20
The four commonly supplied mobile phone types are bar types, flip phones,
slide phones, and touch phones. Although the latest touch phones are the most popular,
they cost around 700 U.S. dollars, and few are able to afford one. The cheapest options
are bar types, costing anywhere from 150 to 400 U.S. dollars. Both the subscription fee
and the activation fee are included in these costs.21
While party executives and the wealthy tend to use Western models such as
Motorola or Nokia, most people use Chinese products. North Korean traders import
cheap Huawei and ZTE products from China. Huawei products that have entered the
North Korean market are T1 (flip) and T3 (flip, slide), while the ZTE products are F160
(bar), T95 (bar), T107, and E850 (touchscreen). Samsung and LG products are also seen
in the streets of Pyongyang.22 On April 2010, reflecting the rising demand for mobile
phones, North Korea has announced its plan to manufacture mobile phones. On August
2013, it made public its first manufactured touchscreen phone, ‘Arirang’.23
While the existing North Korean telecommunication companies only offer
telephone communication services, Koryolink now offers a variety of options. In the
second quarter of 2009, Koryolink offered its first Short Messaging Service (SMS) and in
the third quarter of 2010, responding to high demand, it also began video call services.
According to Orascom’s announcement on June 2011, the use of video call services in
North Korea has quadrupled. On January 2011, Koryolink introduced Multimedia
Messaging Service (MMS), voicemail, Wireless Application Protocol, High Speed Packet
Access, etc.24
Koryolink does not charge subscriber to receive messages.25 Most mobile phone
plans are pre-paid. If a subscriber uses up the allotted call time, they are charged
additional fees. However, Koryolink changes the plans it offers depending on the
20
"Cell Phones in North Korea", pp. 61-62; Yonho, Kim, "Cell Phones in North Korea: Has North Korea
entered the telecommunications revolution?", The US-Korea Institute & VOA(2014), pp. 15-16.
21
Yonho, Kim, "Cell Phones in North Korea: Has North Korea entered the telecommunications
revolution?",p16
22
Ibid,p17
23
"Cell Phones in North Korea", p64.
24
revolution?",p. 18.
25
Ibid, p.19
14
subscriber’s phone model and region26. Additional call time can be paid with pre-paid
cards, costing $10 USD (600 minutes), $11 USD (800 minutes), and $16 USD (335
minutes). A variety of per minute rate plans are available but are more complicated.27
Despite the continuing rise in cell phone subscribers in North Korea, Koryolink’s
rate of monthly average telephone calls are stagnant. After using the free 200 minutes
of call time provided by the company, subscribers can add 100 minutes of additional call
time.28 However, the average North Korean citizens are not able to afford pre-paid
cards.29
Finally, North Korean telecommunication technology in its early stage has
adopted the GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) system as its industrial
standard. However, because the GSM system can be easily wiretapped, North Korea
wanted the CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) model. In 2002, Former South Korean
President Kim Dae-jung tried to support the introduction and adoption of CDMA into
North Korea. However, due to US opposition and North Korean security and technical
issues, it was cancelled. Eventually in 2008, North Korea followed China in adopting the
3G W-CDMA (Wideband Code Division Multiple Access).30
After Kim Jong Il’s visit to Huawei Technology in 2006, North Korea has largely
relied on ‚Huawei Technology‛, China’s biggest network and telecommunication
equipment producer, for telecommunication equipment. Orascom has passed down its
skills to North Korean technicians, and as of May 2011, Koryolink has employed 20
Egyptians and over 200 North Koreans. Although North Korea does not possess any
telecommunication technology development capacities, it does have highly skilled
technicians that have graduated from the Kim Chaek University of Technology and
Huichon University of Telecommunications.31
Additionally, Orascom, instead of establishing telecommunication stations in
close proximity, it has been establishing high-powered stations in wide regions and has
been placing telephone repeaters on existing TV relay stations in rural areas to reduce
expenses. Because most North Koreans reside on vast flatland, such a method is highly
praised in North Korea for reducing expenses and being technically efficient.32
26
Ibid, p. 20
Ibid, p. 21
28
"Cell Phones in North Korea",p. 66.
29
revolution?", pp. 21-22.
30
Ibid, p. 25
31
Ibid, p. 26
32
Ibid.
27
15
2.
Actual Cell Phone Usage
Based on the analysis presented above, a considerable amount of information
about North Korean mobile phone usage has been revealed. Despite the rapid
development in IT by North Korea, policies in telecommunication and equipment usage
will continue to change. Thus, further information on how North Koreans are using
mobile phones and how their daily lives are being influenced should be further
investigated.
In North Korea, other than usage of the Internet, the use of mobile phones, SMS,
MMS, video call, music, and video play (Case I-18) are legally permitted, but not without
restrictions. For example, it is prohibited to publicly purchase mobile phones in
Hoeryong city. (Case I-23) Responses to the number of people owning cell phones
varied according to the interviewees. Some interviewees claimed that out of 100 people,
20 people (I-1), 20 to 30 (Case I-17), or even 0 people (Case I-19) owned a mobile
phone.
Given the varied numbers, it can be assumed that anywhere between 20 to 30
out of 100 North Korean people own a mobile phone. This is much larger than the 10
out 100 North Koreans that Koryolink and ITU had announced. Considering the fact that
the subjects were from one concentrated region and that Koryolink and ITU averaged
the number of users for all of North Korea, the number concluded for this specific
region is valid.
Initially, in one average school class, only two to three students used a cell phone.
However, recently statistics show that one third of an average class owns a cell phone.
This reflects on the increase in demand for cell phones in North Korea (Case I-28). In
2013, in one neighborhood unit with 27 households, four households had access to a
mobile phone. This means that 15% of one neighborhood unit had a mobile phone
(Case I-23). Compared to the case when numerous households gather money to install
cable (Onsung, Case I-7), there is a large interval in the trend between the use of mobile
phones and the use of normal house phones.
A: ‚Near this neighborhood there are about 60 households. But in one
neighborhood unit, there are 27 households, and about 4 households own a
mobile phone.‛
A:‛Yes, 4 households owning one means the number has increased a lot.‛
Q: ‚What about in 2013?‛
A: ‚Yes, in 2013.‛
16
(Case I-23)
The distribution of mobile phones shows differences between social classes and
regions. In the case of Najin city, about 80% of the younger people own a mobile phone,
and about 50 to 60% of adults own one.(Case I-2) Meanwhile in South Hwanghae
Province, there were people who had never seen a mobile phone user before (Case I-3).
The reason for Najin city’s abundant mobile phone users is that ‚the people in Najin
participate in more trade due to the low income provided by the government-led
companies‛(Case I-2). Regional characteristics of commerce and trade also have an
impact.
‚I have never seen anyone use a mobile phone even in downtime in 2010. Maybe
it’s because the South Hwanghae Province is distant from the borders. Because
the border regions (Ryanggang and Hamgyong Provinces) exchange more with
China than with Pyongyang, I don’t see the people there as North Koreans.‛
(Haeju, South Hwanghae, Case I-3)
Also, because mobile phones are expensive products, their ownership depends
on economic status. In wealthy households, even children use mobile phones.
‚Kids in rich households own a mobile phone… there are also households with
none.‛
(Case I-18)
‚I saw a child of an employee of a foreign company own one‛. (Case I-2)
Among the younger generation, there are trends lending and borrowing phones,
as well as giving mobile phones as gifts. The mobile phone itself has become a symbol
of wealth and the embodiment of conspicuous consumption.
A: ‚More and more mobile phone users increased, I believe either in 2012 or in
2013, I gave one of my friends a mobile phone as a birthday present.‛
(Case I-23)
A: ‚Yes, but everyone is like ‘I have a phone, I have a phone.’ My sister is
currently 32, 33, and whenever she leaves to meet her friends she always takes
my phone with her.‛
17
Q: ‚So, she borrows it?‛
A: ‚Yes, it’s like borrowing a car when going to meet her friends. She has to take
my phone with her since there are some friends who have one… I guess about 2
to 3 friends out of her 20 friends. If one lady has a phone, her family is well off.
She used to be well off too until our uncle’s business failed. My uncle wants me
to have a phone, because he doesn’t want my friends to think bad about our
family.‛
(Case I-23)
Mobile phone users kept their phones for the following time periods: 1) one to
two years; 2) less than 2 to 3 years; 3) less than 1 year; and 4) more than three years.
Not many used the same mobile phone for extended periods of time.
Table 2.3
#of
responses
Time of Cell Phone Usage
Less
than a
year
3
1-2
years
2-3
years
7
4
More
than 3
years
2
Other
Didn’t
use
N/A
3
2
29
From 50 Interviewees (multiple answers included)
Types of mobile phones that are being distributed in North Korea are: bar types,
flip phones, slide phones, open cover phones, button phones, and touchscreen phones.
The majority of the products are produced in China and Hong Kong with some products
from South Korea, North Korea, and Egypt. Since China is the main trading partner of
North Korea, telecommunication facilities and the majority of mobile phone products
come from China. Orascom’s collaboration with North Korea in the telecommunication
business is the source of Egyptian products.
Table 2.4
# of
18
Cell Phone Manufacturing Countries
North
Korea
3
Egypt
China
5
13
South
Korea
1
Hong
Kong
1
N/A
29
responses
Also, because mobile phone usage is now legal in North Korea, it seems like no
more products are entering the country through border regions like Sinuiju and Hyesan.
Rather, people are illegally bringing in products through connections with public figures.
(Case I-29) Analyzing the types of mobiles phones produced by each manufacturing
country within North Korea, the bar type phones are most common. In the case of bar
type mobile phones, many of them are manufactured in China and Egypt. Because many
Chinese products are distributed in North Korea, Chinese mobile phones of every type
are commonly used in North Korea.
Table 2.5
Cell Phones by Type and Manufacturing Country
North
Korea
Egypt
China
South
Korea
Hong
Kong
Others
N/A
Bar type (# of
responses)
1
5
11
0
0
1
32
Folder type
1
0
5
0
2
1
41
Slider type
1
0
4
0
0
0
45
Portfolio type
0
0
1
1
0
2
46
Screen with buttons
type
1
0
0
0
1
1
47
Touch type
0
1
3
0
1
1
44
From 50 Interviewees
The most common models of bar type phones are the ‘F107’ and ‘Adonis’. These
phones look like normal house phones with a small screen. The ‘Adonis’ is a better
design than the ‘F107’. Other types of bar phones include the ‚Goby‛. The ‚Goby‛ is
known for its solid exterior and strong durability. As a result, it is more expensive than
other bar phone models. (Vase I-29)
The ‚Huawei‛ is an expensive Chinese cell phone produced in flip, slide, and bar
varieties. Flip phones are especially expensive products that can cost double the price of
normal phones. They can sometimes cost as much as $1,000. For this reason, only a few
people own a flip phone. The ‚Huawei‛ is known among North Koreans for its
19
outstanding performance, as it allows people from Hamhung and Chongjin to make
calls to China (Case I-29).
In 2012, North Korean cell phones were released in the Hyesan and Ryanggang
provinces (Case I-16) with an 8 megapixel camera and a memory card slot that can hold
videos and music. (Shinpa, Ryanggang province Case I-13) In April 2010, by announcing
its plan to begin the production of ‚cell phone tunnel‛ within 6 months, the North
Korean government revealed its goal for domestic production. Seven months later, it
publicly announced that the Pyongyang Checom Technology Joint Venture Company
was producing hundreds of cell phones every day.33 However, it is unclear if North
Korean cell phones are produced by this company.
‚ The North Korean cell phone, the T95, is a black button type phone, which is
known for its cheap price, only costs 1300 North Korean won, but is also known
for having the greatest memory storage. ‚
(Case I-23)
The amount of second-hand phones distributed is equal to the amount of new
phones.
Table 2.6
Cell Phones by Previous Condition: New or Second-hand
# of responses
New
Used
N/A
9
11
30
The rise in the trade of second-hand phones stems from rise in demand for cell
phones and the trade in them is becoming more common. Usually, second-hand
phones are distributed from Pyongyang to rural areas with most of the transactions
occurring in Hyesan. During these deals, it is possible to buy and sell the cell phone
device and the USIM card separately. (Case I-29)
The table below shows that North Koreans use cell phones for mostly personal
reasons, as well as business motives and representation of social status. Cell phone use
was expected to be used mostly for economic reasons; however, survey results showed
33
Yonho Kim, ‚Cell Phones in North Korea: Has North Korea entered the telecommunications revolution?,‛
p. 17.
20
personal communication was most important. It suggests that personal relations are
extremely important in North Korean society.
Table 2.7
Motives for Cell Phone Usage
# of responses
2
11
1
2
1
1
For showing off
For personal relations
For personal uses
For business
For convenience
Following trends
For keeping in touch with
relatives in South Korea
For keeping in touch with
relatives overseas
N/A
1
1
31
From 50 Interviewees (multiple answers
included)
Cell phone usage was high among people that carried out business, particularly
those trading goods with China. Cell phone communication is used to find out prices of
goods and exchange rates. Phones have become important means to exchange price
information for traders allowing transportation and processing time to be quicker and
more convenient. (Case I-19)
Table 2.8
Detailed Business-Related Purposes of Cell Phone Usage
#of responses
For private reason
For delivering supplies
For trades with China
For communicating with
friends
No answer
1
1
1
1
46
21
From the answers of 50 North Korean subjects, it was deduced that cell phones
vary in price range, but cost an average of 480 KPW. In US dollars, this range: $175 USD
(1,400 KPW); $200 USD; $270 USD, $300 USD, $310 USD, $400 USD, $470 USD, $560
USD (4,480 KPW). In Chinese yuan, 400 CNY (480 KPW); 1,300 CNY; 2,000 CNY; 2050
CNY; 2300 CNY; and 2400 yuan; and (2 million 880 KPW). One interviewee stated that a
cell phone was bought for 1,600 KPW. There were also cases of some used cell phones
sent from South Korea and cell phones obtained for free. While cell phones are very
common in modern society, they are considered luxury products in North Korea and a
mid-range price is about 2,000 KPW.
‚You can buy a cell phone with 1,300 Chinese yuan.‛(Case I-18)
‚Based on 109, I was able to buy one for 2,050 yuan.‛(Case I-23)
‚Wired telephones cost about 2,800 yuan while cell phones cost about 1400 yuan.‛
(Case I-1)
Cell phones are usually cheaper than house telephones (Case I-1). However,
because cell phones are a source of income for the government, there are many other
additional costs.
‚First of all, people need to buy it. After buying the cellphone, in order to use,
people need to charge their phone, which becomes a source of income for the
government. In case of light phones, people need to go pay their fees at the
nearest post office. However, it doesn’t work that well. For cell phones, people
need to pay additional fees on top of the basic fees for using it.‛ (Case I-1)
When you buy a phone through wholesale the product usually costs around USD
$300 to $400. There are cell phones that cost USD $200, but when the price of USIM
cards is included it can cost from USD $300 to USD $400. Wholesale dealers decide the
scale of import according to their ability of finance. (Case I-29) Also, it is important to
focus on the fact that mail clerks take the role of cell phone wholesale dealers.
A: ‚There was a person from there. He worked at a post office.
Q: ‚Was he a mail clerk?
A: ‚Yes. Because he personally managed the cellphone marketing system, he was
able to receive cell phones from a friend. By receiving phones, he gave some to
me, and he sold some to others.‛
22
(Case I-29)
On the the other hand, there are no fees for joining a telecommunication
company. Some testimonies stated the cost was 100 to 200 Chinese yuan. However,
some survey participants hadn’t heard about membership fees, and some claimed the
non-existence of membership fees. It can be surmised that separate membership fees
do not exist. Membership fees are included in the cell phone costs.
‚There isn’t any subscription fee… You can just buy it right away with money.‛
(Case I-23)
‚(Through another person’s name) I bought a phone with 2300 Chinese Yuan,
which included the phone price and the membership fee.‛
(Hoeryong, Case I-21, )
Table 2.9
Telecommunication Subscription Fee
# of responses
No Fee
5
Don’t Know
5
Other
6
N/A
34
When one uses all the call time offered by the telecommunication company, the
communication expense does not automatically increase for the additional time used.
One needs to buy a phone card for more call time. The basic call time is 3000 KPW for
200 minutes every month.34
A. ‚(The ways to pay communication expenses) You can only use a certain
amount of minutes designated by the government. If you go over the time
designated, you need to charge it with money. Usually, people only use the time
offered. The time comes in without payment. Like 90 minutes. You only need a lot
of money when you pay for the phone, you don’t need money later if you only
34
Yonho Kim, ‚Cell Phones in North Korea: Has North Korea entered the telecommunications
revolution?,‛p.14.
23
used the time designated. When you go over and need to add more time, it is
better to do it by buying a top-up card. There are people who sell it. It works the
same way as when the government offers it to individuals.‛ (Musan, Case I-17)
‚The call time is in minutes, 200 minutes…. After you pay 100 Chinese yuan for
the money cards‛ (Hoeryong, Case I-21)
After paying the cellphone fee to the post office during the first quarter for 2,850
KPW, there is no an additional cost. While the basic offer is 200 minutes of calling and
20 text messages, the charging method of phone cards was introduced to different
regions at different times by the government. In Musan, it was introduced in 2013. (Case
I-1) After buying the money card at a jangmadang, one can add more time by entering
the number series on the card. This card costs 5 Chinese yuan (6,000 KPW), depending
on the card, one can charge the card once a quarter or once every three months. There
are a variety of card types. (Case I-23)
There is also a way to illegally buy these cards. These illegal phone cards offer
more time and can cost from 100 to 140 North Korean won, depending on the time
offered on the card. (Case I-23)
There are a variety of methods for buying cell phones, most commonly market
deals. The next most common method is to get it through a friend or through bartering.
Other methods include buying it from local communication stations or receiving it from
an organization through a friend.
Table 2.10 Forms of Cell Phone Purchase
# of responses
Purchased from a communication office
(national, regional)
Distributed from an official institution
Purchased from a market
Purchased from countries overseas
Purchased from a trader from China
Obtained from an acquaintance/Through barter
Purchased by an acquaintance under my name
N/A
2
1
7
1
1
9
1
29
24
There are two ways in which you can purchase cell phones in North Korea officially and unofficially. To do so officially, one must obtain permission from an official
of the State Security Department, a Security Officer, and the Head of the Neighborhood
Unit. Then, an application to the telecommunication service can be sent through the
post office in Pyongyang, from which a phone number is obtained. Meanwhile, a cell
phone can be purchased at the market and registered at a telecommunication station.
A: ‚My brother-in-law talked about a process through the government
administration and getting approval, but I don’t know exactly about the process.
Apparently, the official paper goes all the way to Pyongyang when you buy a
phone
Q: Then did your brother-in-law go to the post office for registration later?
A: ‚Yeah, he had to turn in the form at the post office, and you receive your
number from Pyongyang. Afterward, even these institutions do business, so if you
ask one of the workers for a phone and for registration, they give one to you. It
seemed like they do it the way the government administration does it…‛
(Hoeryong, I-21)
To purchase a cellphone, one must bring the appropriate forms. These forms
include an identification card, family relation certificate, affiliation, telecommunication
application form, etc. In addition, the buyer must bring personal information; their name,
date of birth, place of birth, current address, blood type, experiences, job, etc.
Table 2.11
#of
responses
Required Documents to Purchase Cell Phone
Reside
nt card
Familial
relations
card
Member of
party card
Telecommunicati
on service
subscription form
None
Don’t know
N/A
4
1
1
1
5
2
38
From 50 Interviewees (multiple answers included); N/A counted as No answer
25
Table 2.12 Required Personal Information to Purchase Cell Phone
#of
responses
Name
Birth
date
Place of
birth
Current
address
Blood
type
Career
Occupation
Other
N/A
12
11
9
11
5
1
1
3
36
From 50 Interviewees (multiple answers included); ‘Other’ answers include don’t know, not applicable, and identity card
The unofficial method does not require any approval, and can be used
immediately after purchase in the black market. Individual sellers also transfer their
phones, which cost about 2,500 CNY.
After turning in the forms and paying the fees, the approval time depends on
whether the official or unofficial method is used. The first official method means that
one has to wait for the final approval. Approval is not needed if a cell phone is bought
second hand, it can be used immediately after purchase. The minimum approval time is
about a day and the maximum is one to three months.
Table 2.13 Waiting Period for Cell Phone Purchase Approval
#of
responses
Right
away
In a day
In 15
days
In a
month
In 3
months
Other
N/A
2
1
2
1
2
3
39
From 50 Interviewees; ‘Other’ answers include don’t know, not applicable, and no subscription
period
People do not only use secondhand phones under others’ names for financial
reasons. As in the case of Hoeryong, one is sometimes unable to officially purchase a
cell phone, or it may be difficult to apply for a cell phone under one’s names. In
addition, second-hand phones can also be used right away.
‚Yes, if you go to the post office they sell cell phones. It is legal. At the post
office, they sell a variety of phones and you can also register there, but it takes a
while to do it. I heard that because it takes a long time people buy used-phones.
26
You can use your cell phone right away, but if you buy a new one, it is too
complicated…‛
(Case I-29)
Using cell phones under other people’s name can cause issues. According to Case
I-23, because of a cellphone’s password error, it became locked and could not be used.
As a result, the person had to go to the region where he bought the phone to get it
fixed.
A: ‚Ah yes, there was a time when I couldn’t use my phone for a month since it
was under another person’s name. So I had to go to Pyongyang… When I looked
for the person my phone belonged to, it was under the commander of the 2nd
army corps’ material storage person. It was under his name‛
Q: Did he sell it?
A: Yes, he did. My phone 141439 was under his name. So, I went to the computer
place, where they sold cell phones and searched for the person. They made me
pay 5 yuan. 5 Chinese yuan. I found him and it said he’s in Pyongyang, so I went
there. Once I met him, I had to persuade him that I needed his help. And in order
to re-open the phone you need your identification card. I asked them why it is so
complicated, and they told me to then pay 500 won. So I did. I sent it to
Pyongyang.
Q: So did he re-open the phone for you?
A: Yes, he did. But it took a month…. then my phone came back.‛ (Case I-23)
There are some cases where restrictions can apply to buying a cell phone. In
many cases, prohibition orders are given to border regions.
Table 2.14 Restrictions on Purchasing Cell Phone
# of responses
Yes
No
N/A
4
8
38
27
Before the popularity of text messaging surfaced, research showed personal use
to be the most common use for cell phones, followed by trade and business. However,
once text messaging came about, cell phones became most commonly used to contact
family members (3rd reason), followed by text messaging were (5th reason). Because
home phones often suffer from bad signals and interruptions, traders use cell phones
more often. (Case I-23)
Table 2.15 Cell Phone Call Purposes
Inquiring after
family members
Connecting with
friends
Business
Trade/Deal
Other
N/A
1st
# of responses
3
9
0
7
0
31
2nd
3
5
2
5
1
34
3rd
4
2
3
2
1
38
4th
3
0
3
0
3
41
Table 2.16 Cell Phone Text Message Purposes
Inquiring
after family
members
Connecting
with friends
Business
Trade/Deal
Other
N/A
1st # of
responses
2
10
0
4
0
34
2nd
4
6
1
3
2
34
3rd
2
0
5
3
2
38
4th
5
0
3
0
1
41
28
Regarding cell phone uses, the average hours of use for text messaging and calls
hold a significant difference. Research showed that people used less than ten minutes
for calls, on average. Many others used the phone for 10 to 30 minutes and one outlier
used the phone for even three hours. In the case of text messaging, the least number of
uses per month was 20 times, which included days when the user didn’t use the service.
There were cases where others did not use the text messaging service and but used the
cell phone for 200 minutes. Therefore, it can be concluded that the average hours of
phone calls is 30 minutes to one hour, and 20 to 30 text messages sent monthly.
‚I send about 200 messages a month.‛
‚I rarely send texts, most of the time I have leftovers.‛(Case I-23)
Table 2.17
Average Hours of Cell Phone Calls per Day
Less than 10
minutes
10-30
minutes
5
#of responses
4
1-2
hours
1
2-3
hours
1
More than 3
hours
N/A
2
36
Cell phones are also used for purposes other than calling and text messaging.
They can be used for listening to music, taking pictures, video watching and recording,
reading e-books, and more, these functions being most commonly used. North Koreans
also play games with their cell phones using applications that can help individuals to
develop new hobbies.
Table 2.18 Purposes of Cell Phone Usage
Game
Video
Text
Photo
Music
E-book
Call
Other
N/A
1st
# of
respons
es
0
1
0
0
3
0
13
0
33
2nd
3
0
7
1
4
1
0
0
34
3rd
2
2
1
1
5
1
1
0
37
4th
0
1
2
5
2
1
0
1
38
29
5th
2
4
1
0
0
2
1
1
39
6th
1
3
1
1
0
0
1
3
40
7th
1
0
1
1
0
3
0
1
43
On average, the longest time calling with cell phones appears to be 10 minutes,
and the shortest time seems to be 30 minutes. The time spent using other functions
such as listening to music, watching videos, playing games, listening to music, and
reading e-books vary. However, it can be deduced that an average North Korean uses
their cellphone between two to five hours per day.
Additionally, people also record videos during special occasion, save it in their SD
cards, and share it. Common subjects of e-books are crime stories and biographies.
(Case I-23)
‚There are a lot of things to read in a book. It was also in South Korea. I heard
that there are a lot of crime genre books. The books that impressed me the most
were books written in North Korea in the 1960s, 50s about crime scenes. There
were also biographies from China about how drugs ruined one’s life. There was
one about Kang Taekmin, what was his wife’s name?‛
(Case I-23)
Cell phones were used for Bluetooth. High quality cell phones such as ‚Adonis‛
are capable of sharing files through Bluetooth. However, the process to use Bluetooth
appears to be complicated.
‚A: First of all, this phone and T-90 can’t use bluetooth because of low storage.‛
(Case I-23)
A: ‚Yes, it was hard to control. There are things like T-something and ‚Adonis‛,
which have enough storage space...Arghhh how did I do it again? I was trying to
do it when I came to Korea and asked my friend who came three years earlier, but
he didn’t know how to. But I remembered how I did it in North Korea, so I tried
and it worked. (Omit) Yes, it is really complicated in North Korea, so my guy
friends came to me for help.‛
(Case I-23)
It appears that the North Korean government does not utilize cell phones as
means for propaganda as this mean does not fit into their propaganda categories. On
30
the other hand, they do announce public orders to ‚not use [the cell phones] impure
recordings‛, meaning not to use the cell phone functions for inadequate purposes.
Responses by subjects about phone number prefixes are contradictory. Some say
that these are area codes. Pyongyang is 091, Najin is 095, Hoeryong is 097, etc.
(Hoeryong, I-21) Others say that prefixes do not designate different regions but that
new numbers were made as demand increased. Therefore, people can tell when the
phone was bought according to its phone number. For example, in the beginning,
Pyongyang phones started with 2, but then numbers from the same region also began
with 1 and 3.
‚If the phone number starts with a 2, it’s from Pyongyang. Mine was 214, which
was from Pyongyang, but in the early days, it was 220, lower numbers were
recently made.‛
(Case I-23)
A: ‚My phone number is 214, which is from Pyongyang. People from Pyongyang
were the first ones to buy a cellphone so 220 was the first beginning of phone
numbers. But, when Kim Jong-Il visited China and saw the Chinese people using
cell phones, he tried to produce it in North Korea, but realizing that North
Koreans won’t have the money to buy one, he started the phone numbers with
220. Unlike what he expected, many North Koreans bought it, so they had to go
down to 200 and start from there. Mine started with 214, and if I asked my
friends what their phone numbers are and they say 191 or 321, we known the
phone is cheap. If it starts with a 3, the phone is really old.‛
Q: It’s from the deep countryside.
A: Yes, so your phone number depends on when you buy your phone.‛
(Case I-23)
Although it is hard to identify the system for designating number prefixes,
phones with different designated numbers can be used in different regions. Cell phones
from Pyongyang in particular can be used in the countryside. (Hoeryong, I-21)
Considering the fact that the number of cellphone users is increasing, the latter opinion
that numbers are designated according to their date of purchase seems more likely.
‚Ah it will be changed to 191. The demand for cell phones was high when I came,
so it didn’t matter which region you are from, it went to 190.‛ (Case I-23)
31
Cell phone numbers usually begin with 191, 192, 195, 220, 214, 276, 321, and are
followed by 4 digit numbers. It appears to be that many people use 191 in the middle,
and the later the number was made, people’s preference was lower. (Case I-29)
Q: ‚Yeah so 191 and what? 195?‛
A: ‚191 then the first number is 2. 1912 was used because Kim Il-sung was born
that year. And 192, 191, 276 were followed by 4 digit numbers.‛
Q: But is there 195 other than 192?
A: ‚195 also came out.‛
Q: What is the difference?
A: ‚There isn’t anything different.‛
Q: Did it come out later?
A: ‚Yes, it did. But many people used 191. The first one was 192 and then later
195 came out. But there weren’t many who used 195.‛
Q: Have you seen numbers other than 195?
A: ‚I haven’t. I saw 191 the most. But when 195 came out people didn’t want to
use it because 191 was more popular.‛ (Case I-29)
Table 2.19
Propaganda through Cell Phones
YES
NO
N/A
TV broadcasts and
advertisements (# of
0
18
32
responses)
Slogans and speeches
1
16
33
Notifications and
instructions through
1
16
33
texts
32
North Koreans who own a phone did not know much about the base radio
station’s system and its method of communications, as there is little information
available. Among the 50 people who replied to the survey, only two people had - limited
- information about the 3G system and roaming service, and were only aware about
Koryolink and Kangsung network carriers. They did not know anything about the
communication systems of cell phones.
Table 2.20
Base Station System for Cell Phone
Understand
Don’t
N/A
understand
# of responses
2
16
32
Table 2.21
Communication System of Cell Phone
GSM
Don’t know
# of responses
1
15
N/A
34
There is no information about how and where the phones were produced. People
only knew that the telecommunication post office and the cellphone factory were
located in Pyongyang.
Table 2.22
Cell Phone Manufacturing Factories and Companies
Don’t know
None
Communications
office/Post office
Factories
in
Pyongyang
N/A
Number of
responses
3
1
1
1
44
33
Cell phones were available for purchase from the post office, individuals or
markets, mobile communication stores, and base radio stations. Businesses that allow
the use of cell phones after registration were Koryolink, Kangsung network, and the post
office.
Table 2.23 Cell Phone Sale Related Institutions
Number of
responses
Post
office
6
Telecommuni
cations office
2
Jangmadang/Marketplace
Don’t know
N/A
5
1
40
Table 2.24
Number
of responses
Telecommunication Subscription Related Institutions/
Professions
Koryolink/Ka
ngsung
Network
4
Telecommunic
ations office
Post office
Security
department
Don’t
know
N/A
1
2
1
1
41
Phone calls in North Korea are available nationwide. Looking at the responses to
the survey questions for phone call conditions, most people replied that the phone call
services in North Korea were average. Certain regions, Kilju for example, have a relay
station located in the city making the communication condition very good. (Case I-18)
Table 2.25
Geographic Areas Available for Cell Phone Calls
China
All Country
Pyongyang
Hyesan
Chongjin
Hamhung
Sinuiju
Wonsan
Hoeryong
34
1
2
8
4
7
6
1
3
4
Musan
Onsong
Kilju
North
Pyongan
South
Pyongan
North
Hwanghae
South
Hwanghae
Kaesung
Pyongsung
N/A
Table 2.26
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
34
Quality of Cell Phone Calls
Reception of the calls is good
(Number of responses)
There is no background noise or
reverberation
The sound doesn’t get cut off during calls
The call range is wide
Highly
agree
3
Average
N/A
12
Highly
disagree
2
1
11
5
33
3
6
33
33
3
11
1
10
33
The biggest complaint of phone users was that the signal wave could not be
evenly received. This caused unsmooth phone call connection, interference problems,
and calls being dropped. These problems occurred most often in homes, underground
areas, and during train rides. Because there is not a base station for each building and
there is only one large base radio station for a broad region sending radio waves, the
phone call qualities are low indoors, underground and during transportation. Other
areas that had problems were wide areas like parks and squares.
35
Table 2.27 Complaints about Quality of Cell Phone Calls
Number of
responses
Breaks in sound while receiving a call
4
No connection with antenna
11
Troubles with call transmission
7
Cuts in reception while receiving calls
5
Troubles with texts
1
Reverberation during calls
3
Background noise during calls
5
Echoes during calls
2
Troubles with only one side of calls
2
None
1
N/A
31
Table 2.28 Areas with Problematic Quality of Cell Phone Calls
Area of
residence
Outdoor
While
moving
Underground (#
of responses)
6
Streets in city
Inside a
Inside an elevator
room
9
1
Streets
Underground
outside
tunnels/Shopping
the city
districts
2
2
4
Walking
On a train
In a car
2
4
2
In front of the
house
2
Subway/Train
stations
N/A
2
On subway
1
42
N/A
41
34
N/A
In North Korea, cell phones are usually repaired by private repairmen. Otherwise,
cell phones can be fixed in the black market (Case I-23) and any institutions that sell
phones. The cost varies depending on the problems that need to be fixed. For example,
fixing the speaker will cost about 100 KPW (Case I-23). As the repair prices are expensive,
most people fix the phones themselves.
36
Table 2.29
# of
responses
Cell Phone Repair Methods
Through a
private
technician
10
From a
service
center
1
Irreparable
Selfrepair
From the place of
purchase for a fee
N/A
2
3
4
4
In addition, it appears that North Koreans use their phones without any upgrades.
The survey respondents had no upgrade experience or any information about upgrades.
The reason for this is because the use of smartphones is not yet common.
Table 2.30 Cell Phone Upgrade Experience
Don’t know
No
N/A
# of responses
13
2
35
Charging mobile phones in North Korea can be difficult due to problems with the
power supply. For this reason, people often own multiple batteries. Normally, people
use two to three batteries, but some use as many as six. Normal batteries last for one
day, so they are changed daily. In summer, when electricity is easily accessible, people
say that one battery is enough. (Case I-23)
To charge a phone, people use either a 12V battery or a wall socket when
electricity is provided. Cellphone accessories are also popular in North Korea. The most
common phone accessories are phone rings, phone cases, screen protectors, and phone
stickers. As mobile phones became a symbol of wealth, people hang their phones
around their necks as a necklace. (Case I-23)
Table 2.31 Cell Phone Accessories by Type
Number of responses
Phone case
1
Necklace/Wristlet
1
37
Screen protector
13
Keychain
16
Protector pouch
14
Stickers
6
Stylus
3
Don’t know
1
N/A
33
3. Cell Phone Censorship
As the North Korean government exercises strict control, many citizens believe
that cell phones as well as home phones are subjected to wiretapping. While two
respondents stated that the State Security Department and the Police were not
wiretapping individuals, 15 others stated that cell phone calls and texts were tapped. It
is evident that there is an internalized notion of severe surveillance in North Korean
society which was further corroborated by the residents’ attestation of background
echoes during calls, a common effect of external tapping.
Table 2.32
Cell Phone Tapping by the State Security Department and the
Police
Not wiretapped
Number of
responses
2
Wiretapped (phone calls &
texts)
15
N/A
33
There was a case where the scene of the tapping* was witnessed. The interviewee
stated that some of the cable-workers actually worked for the security department, and
that tapping caused significant echoes and background noises.
38
‚A: Landline phones in houses are all tapped, too. But then, you can work out that
you are being overheard. Because there’s noise like buzzing in the background.
And so I had this Chinese phone, I used it for a year or so.
A: In North Korea, you see, there are cable-workers. All the power lines and wires
are out on the streets, and so the wind, when it’s strong, it breaks the cables. And
when that happens, cable-workers come to fix the wires, but some are spies.
From the police and the security department and all. Once, we actually became
aware of the tapping and caught the guy.
Q: Oh, really?
A: ‚Yeah.‛
Q: How did you figure that out?
A: ‚I picked up the phone and I started to talk, I was talking about the business
expenses with the person on the phone but it was weird. So I look up and I see
the person.
Q: So not just the background noises, but also how you heard your own voice…
A: ‚What I was saying kept on echoing. And then, next what the person on the
other side of the line was saying became faint. So because there’s a person
interrupting the connection to listen in, when I speak, sometimes, I don’t know
how to say, but anywho I had a hunch. And so when I do that, when I suddenly
stop speaking, then the other person heard noises and then nothing. I slowly put
the phone down but the person I was talking to say that the call hadn’t been cut,
that he didn’t know. I detected the tapping, so I hung up, but the call continued
on with the person who’s tapping, without him knowing, basically.‛
A: Phone calls echo, too. (Hoeryong, Case # I-21)
Cell phone calls to regions in China, especially, can be tapped using its frequency.
It’s very easy to get caught, as the government workers conceal themselves as farmers
with a portable radio locator.
‚When you’re using things like USB, you can just quickly take it out. But calls get
tapped. Calls to South Korea don’t get tapped, but calls to China do. I know a lot
39
of people working with law, so they told me. People who don’t have information
are the ones that get caught. That’s why cell phones are dangerous. They get
tapped and you get caught. You can’t catch the frequency higher up in
mountains, so those people carry radar locator around and listen in on calls,
pretending they’re just working. I can’t have the phone on myself, and so I either
hide it or leave it with another person.‛ (Musan, Case I-17)
‚It was 3 years ago. They don’t tap on what I’m talking about, but on the
frequency my phone uses to send the call. I was getting ready to defect, but they
caught the frequency, and everything was blown. I still keep in touch with people
in North Korea to send information, but I can’t use text messages, just calls. It
goes through call operators, so I can’t use texts.‛
(Musan, North Hamgyong province, Case I-17)
Cell phones were more heavily restricted in areas near the Chinese border and
Tumen River, being adjacent to the outside. Apart from the locations mentioned above,
it was disclosed that the government forbids calls in conference rooms where lectures or
weekly union meetings take place (Case I-23).
Table 2.33 Mandatory Cell Phone Restricted Areas
Number of responses
Areas near border
2
Areas contingent to China
3
Areas near Dooman River in Onsong, North Hamgyong province
1
Conference rooms
1
Don’t know
N/A
2
40
Wiretapping and cell phone censorship done by the 109 Professional
Enforcement Joint Command, the 1118 Censoring Agency, and the State Security
Department commonly use radio wave detectors, not necessarily with specific targets or
during specific time periods. Persons caught violating censorship laws face punishment.
The majority of the punishments were due to getting caught with South Korean media,
foreign publications, or other inappropriate recordings.
40
Table 2.34 Reasons for Penalty from Cell Phone Censorship
Publications
Inappropriate
outside of North
recordings
Korea
7
1
1
South Korean
music/videos
# of responses
None
N/A
2
39
Penalties resulting from the violation of cell phone restrictions are uncommon in
North Korea. Punishment is typically self-criticism rather than heavier penalties,
although bribery can help to avoid punishment. This tendency can be explained by the
fact that people are more careful in how they use their phones as they carry them
around on a daily basis, which makes foreign content more readily discovered should it
be in their phone.
Table 2.35
Number
responses
Primary and Secondary Experience of Penalty from Cell Phone
Censorship
None
Self-criticism/
Involvement of Bribery
Witnessed another
person get punished
Other
N/A
7
1
5
1
6
of
From 50 Interviewees (multiple answers included); ‘Other’ is explained above
Evidence of this is that people use SD cards to leave no trace, and erase all
content from their phones to avoid any cell phone controls.
Table 2.36 Measures Taken to Avoid Controls on Cell Phone
Number of
responses
Use of
SD card
Removal
of data
saved
5
5
Usage only in
secure areas(i.e.
home/remote
areas)
2
Secretive
possession
1
Avoid
using it
in front
of police
1
N/A
36
41
III.
COMPUTERS AND LAPTOPS
1. Supply Status
North Korea’s information technology sector focuses on creating the necessary
services and machinery for the collection and processing of information. Information
services are described as the collection, processing, storage, and dissemination of
information. Computer skills, programming, information processing, information transfer
services and broadcasting services are also included in the information sector. The IT
industry includes communication hardware and software, also classified as
telecommunications and includes activities such as computer programming and
information services. The intelligence service industry includes programs services, source
library services, searching services, information analyzing services, information
processing services, which covers over half of the information technology industry. 35
Table 3.1
North Korea IT Industries by Category
Types
Hardware (IT
facilities)
- Computer/secondary equipment
- Office machines
- Cable/Wireless electronic communication
equipment
- Various measuring equipment, audio
machines,
radio/TV, recording equipment
- Semiconductor, integrated circuits,
magnetic tape/disks
- Other electronic components
Software/Service
- Execution of program
- Preparing data/Computer management
- Collecting information
- Production of recordings
- Telecommunication, Radio/TV broadcasts
Reference: Korea Finance Corporation, Industries in North Korea, p.626
35
Korea Finance Corporation, ‚The North Korea Industry 2010,‛ p. 635.
42
Since 1960, North Korea has worked to develop its own computer infrastructure.
North Korea began its development with an analogue computer ‚Jeonjin-5500’ in the
late 1960s, a second generation computer named ‚Yongnamsan NO. 1‛ in the 1970s and
in 1982, an 8 bit computer named ‚Bonghwa 4-1‛. In 1990, North Korea began to
develop its own software and it established the Chosun Computer Center (KCC) and the
Pyongyang Information Center (PIC).36
Between the eleventh and fourteenth of April, 2015, North Korea held a Spring
International Commodity Exhibition as a venue to boast of its domestic IT development.
Among the products exhibited North Korean tablet computers and laptop computers
with ‘detachable keyboards’ were well received by participants. In addition, the
domestically made ‘Myohyang’ tablet PC which has a dual core Central Processing Unit
with up to 16 gigabytes of memory, touch screen and TV DMB services were displayed
in the exhibition, making it one of the leading technologies in the nation.37
However, North Korea’s technological development is considered unstable. 38 For
example, in September of 2002, a joint venture with China’s Panda Electronics Group,
‘Morning-Panda Computer Equity Joint Venture’, was established. It tried to produce
Pentium IV ‘Morning-Panda PCs’ from 2003, but lack of parts led to its discontinuation39.
It is estimated that North Korea’s computer supply hovers at around 120,000 to
130,000 with 65% of the models less than the 286 bit class.40 Pentium PCs are supplied
to university research labs and higher education facilities. However, due to the lack of
electricity, personal computers are not distributed throughout the country. An analog
state is being maintained and only high ranking officials and privileged persons are
allowed computers connected to the internal network. However, there is a study that
reveals that computer laboratories, IT centers, and young practitioners have a high level
of programming skill.41 According to KOTRA and Chicago Korea Business Center (KBC),
children of high ranking North Koreans are undergoing computer education including
36
Jongsun Kim, ‚A Study on the Developing Pathway and Level of IT Softwares and Hardwares in North
Korea,‛ The Korean Association of North Korean Studies & Science and Technology Policy Institute
conference (May 26, 2015), p. 8.
37
‚North Korea, Focus on Receiving Foreign Investment at Pyongyang International Trade Fair,‛ Yonhap
News, May 7, 2015.
38
After the first nuclear weapon test in 2006, UN declared resolution1718 sanctions on North Korea, and
resolution 1874 sanctions after the second nuclear weapon test in 2009. The sanctions prohibit export of
certain products to North Korea that can potentially be used for missiles and nuclear weapons
development. Following the sanctions, United States, Japan, and EU ban PC exports to North Korea, which
can be seen as an obstruction to the development of North Korea’s PC industry.
39
40
41
‚North Korea’s Digital Revolution Solidify Kim Jong-Un’s Footing,‛ Financial News, August 18, 2011.
43
computer games, Photoshop and other software such as Microsoft
Office.
Inside North Korea, domestically developed software and operating systems are
used. The Red Star operating system and the Naenara web browser are among the most
widely used. The number of websites is gradually growing and in 2010, a website similar
to Facebook and Twitter called Uriminzok was created, drawing wide interest from the
population.42 Recently, the Rodong News website underwent a revamp to include
videos, PDF files and other changes. Additionally, North Korean IT has developed
significantly to provide software for banking services and smartphone applications.
North Korea also sends computer specialists to foreign countries to work in their
software industries.43
Table 3.2
Year
Systematization and Institutionalization of North Korean IT
Education
Contents
1998 - Compulsory computer education for students in 4th year of middle school and higher
1999
- Department of computer science established in Kim Il-Sung University and Kim Chaek University of
Technology
2000 - Programming Education Bureau established in the Ministry of Education
- Hamhung University of Computer Technology and Pyongyang University of Computer Technology
founded
2001
- Centres for gifted computer science students established: Mangyongdae Children's Palace,
Pyongyang Children’s Palace, and Keumsung 1st and 2nd middle high schools
- College of Information Technology and Science and College of Engineering established in Kim Chaek
2002 University of Technology
- School of IT founded under the Institute of Science
42
‚Advancing North Korean IT, Beginning of the Digital Revolution,‛ Korea Trade-Investment Promotion
Agency Trade Doctor, August 15, 2011.
43
Paul Tjia, GPI Consulting, at the Institute for Far Eastern Studies of Kyungnam University hosted
conference ‘Doing Business with North Korea: Opportunities and challenges,’ January 28, 2015.
44
2003 - Change to IT focused educational system in major universities
2006 - Class for gifted computer science students established in Keumsung Institute
2009
- Compulsory computer education for students in 3rd year of elementary school and higher
- Pyongyang University of Science and Technology completed with IT graduate program
Reference: Ministry of Unification Information Portal;
http://nkinfo.unikorea.go.kr/nkp/overview/nkOverview.do?sumryMenuId=EC220.
To develop its information industry, North Korea focused university and middle
school curricula on information technology. Pyongyang and Hamhung’s University of
Science and Technology, Pyongsong Institute of Science and ten other universities are
producing five to ten thousand IT workers yearly.44 In order to develop skilled IT workers,
North Korea is sending its computer experts to India and other countries to gain
experience.
2.
Actual Laptop and Computer Usage
Although the North Korean government focuses on IT development and
education, most of the population have limited knowledge of computers and do not
commonly use them. However despite the societal and economic restrictions placed on
the possession of computers, personal computers are viewed favorably by the
population. Computers are most often used for personal hobbies and entertainment.
Main computer uses include watching movies or dramas, listening to music or playing
games. The result of a survey concerning the top five uses of computers showed that
watching Chinese movies and dramas, listening to music, watching South Korean movies
and dramas and playing games were among the top uses of a computer.
Table 3.3
Game
44
Purposes of Computer/Laptop Usage (5 most frequent uses)
South Korean
movies/TV
shows
Business
Music
Chinese
movies/TV
shows
Other
N/A
North Korea Information Portal, Ministry of Unification;
http://nkinfo.unikorea.go.kr/nkp/overview/nkOverview.do?sumryMenuId=EC220.
45
1st (# of
responses)
2nd
3rd
4th
5th
3
9
2
5
4
4
4
8
3
0
5
4
5
13
2
7
2
4
3
1
10
1
18
4
5
3
1
3
3
4
8
19
20
30
33
Movies or dramas are watched most often by connecting a device that has the
content saved on it such as a USB. People living in the countryside often have to copy or
record content because the TV channels are fixed. For example, events going on in
Russia such as news or concerts are often recorded and saved on USBs and watched by
North Koreans. However, it is unclear whether only certain programs broadcasted in
Pyongyang are recorded and distributed in the countryside or if whole channels are
recorded. University students use computers for academic writing purposes and
computers are used in school as an educational tool. English tutoring as well as
information searches on the North Korean intranet are in universities even in the country
side. It is possible to listen to lectures from Pyongyang University for a fee.
‚It is possible to learn English taught at Kim Il Sung University and Kim Chaek
University through computer lectures. There is a service fee. I do not remember
the price.‛
(Ryanggang province, Case I-13)
‚(Internet lecture content in) Ryanggang province there are about 30 computers
in the library. In Chinese currency, it costs around 1700 yuan. It is hard to see a
computer. There are basic English lectures.‛
(Ryanggang province, Case I-13)‛
In addition, schools offer courses in Excel, Photoshop, CAD and other
professional courses. They also teach students how to fix computer problems.
Specifically, the department of computer science focuses on teaching computer
language, algorithms, startup methods and operating systems. However, a restriction
placed on the internet curtails education.
‚(Computer usage) My father bought me a computer so that I would could study
about computers in depth. I learned Excel and Photoshoot… My university had a
46
computer and we learned to wipe the computer once a virus infiltrates the
system. I used a computer with my friend and shared content with him.‛
(South Pyongan province, Case I-15)
‚(Functions of used computers) They are used as space filler. Computers are used
as space fillers, CAD operations, writing computer codes, and for information
searches. Videos are watched through USBs‛
(IT graduate, Case I-4)
Computers are used in factories and companies for accounting and financial
purposes but actual use is low in North Korea. This is because computer education is
low and uncommon in North Korea. The existing method for accounting is more familiar
and therefore more frequently used.
‚(Factory) The secretary office has around two computers. However, they are just
left in the corner. Employees do not know how to use the computers. Office
workers have good handwriting and everything is written by hand‛
(Case I-10)
Since English is often used in computers, North Korean citizens find it difficult to
understand. The reason is that instead of using domestically developed programs,
programs illegally imported in their original state in their original language are used.
Q. ‚Is Microsoft word installed as a basic program in Windows?‛
A. ‚It was all in English.‛
Q. ‚Then there is a high chance that it was Microsoft Word‛
A. ‚There are lots of functions but since people do not know how to use them,
they don’t look at them.‛
Q. ‚Have you ever clicked on one?‛
A. ‚Yes, I have.‛
Q.‛ What happened?
A. ‚I didn’t think carefully when I clicked it.‛
47
Q. ‚You just opened the program to see what it was like then closed it?‛
A. ‚I was worried I would break it.‛
(Case I-25)
Computer supply is expected to rise at a rapid rate, as North Korean institutions
are using computers as a medium to connect with Pyongyang and for other utilities
such as read and print sources from liberal arts colleges, receive orders from the
Workers’ Party, and even receive policy instructions. These activities are likely to become
more common because of the increased speed and efficiency of using a computer.
Additionally, officials can gain information related to South Korea via computer
networks.
‚Information in North Korea can be searched through a computer. Computers are
not linked to the world but are linked only in North Korea. Only the higher ups
can see what is happening in South Korea.‛
(Case I-18)
Computers that are utilized in this manner are generally expensive and only exist
in rich households or in households that have children who want computers. ‚North
Koreans think that if a person has a computer or a refrigerator in the house then they
are rich‛. (Case I-24) As computers became a symbol of status, they are often displayed
for show. However, because of the wealth disparity in North Korea, there are some cases
where even companies do not have computers.
‚I received a Chinese computer. It was expensive. Students generally use these
computers. They are bought in houses that students live in. Internet does not
work but Photoshop and Microsoft Office can be used. Many friends had
Lenovo’s because they were cheap. Many friends had it and would watch dramas
on them.‛ (Case I-8, Born in 1995)
The most common operating system for computers and laptops in North Korea is
windows XP and the domestically developed Red Star 12.45 However, Red Star 12 takes
45
Jongsun Kim, Science and Technology Policy Institute research specialist explains North Korean
government has
installed surveillance software in Red Star OS 2.0 to manage censorship at a national level. IT industry in
North
Korea, therefore, is a double edged sword., ‚From OS to Tablets; IT in North Korea,‛ Bloter;
http://www.bloter.net/archives/202735.
48
up a large portion of computers processes which make its uncomfortable for user trying
to watch videos because of the slow performance. Nevertheless, it is in common use
because of censorship and societal rules put in place by the North Korean government.
A: ‚In university computer classes, Red Star operating system is used but this
operating system is very limited and does not have a lot of functions; Microsoft
has a wider variety of functions.‛
Q: ‚In particular, games don’t work very well on Red Star right?‛
A: ‚Yes, that’s right.‛
Q: ‚Programs that take up a lot of CPU don’t run very well either?‛
A: ‚Yes, they don’t run very well.‛ (Case I-26)
Table 3.4
Number of
responses
Operating Systems for Computer/Laptop
Red Star
Windows
XP
Windows 4
Windows 7
Don’t
know
N/A
10
19
2
1
9
15
In some instances, operating systems are set up as programs so that two
separate accounts are made with different operating systems. This method is
accomplished with the help of university libraries or computer specialists. At one point,
regular trading markets sold ‚drive systems‛ and ‚installation discs‛ so that computers
could be reinstalled with select programs.
A: ‚In North Korea, the Red Star Operating system is used as the main operating
system and in the background, windows XP is used. … (Omitted)… This is because
Windows operating system is not allowed but without it the computer does not
operate smoothly so Red Star is installed as a front and somehow Windows is
installed to make dual operating systems. …. (Omitted)... so if security agents or
censors come to use your computer then Red Star would be running and for
personal purposes, windows operating system is used‛
(Case I-26)
49
Most university computers operate on Windows Vista and Microsoft Word 2010
versions are used. This signifies that North Korea is dedicated to computer education.
‚(Status of computers at Institutes of Technology) There are a lot of computers.
There is one computer for every 10 students. The computer type is Pentium 4.
The operating systems, before I came, were Windows 2006, 2007 and Vista. The
newest version I saw was Windows 2011. Most computers used Vista. Due to the
high number of computer majors, computers were popular and widely used. ‚
(IT graduate, Case I-4)
The Intel x86 7g microprocessor from 2006, discontinued by the manufacturer, is
used in the Intel Pentium 4 which is the most commonly used chip. Although eightgeneration x86/ x64 microprocessors from Intel are used, Intel Core 2 and Intel I3,
released in 2006, have been in use in North Korea. However, people generally have no
knowledge of their computer specs or operating systems.
Table 3.5
Central Processing Unit of Computer/Laptop
Intel
Intel
Intel
Don’t
Intel Core 2
Other
13
Pentium 3 Pentium 4
know
Number of responses
2
4
3
6
2
19
From 50 Interviewees (multiple answers included); ‘others’ include IBM, Window 98, Last XP
N/A
18
Computer users stated that they have seen or used programs developed by
Microsoft such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and other programs such as Hangul, Adobe,
and Gom Player. The most popular program among these are Word, Excel and
PowerPoint, as many computers within North Korea operate on Microsoft systems. The
number of Gom Player and Windows player users is high because people enjoy
watching videos. Gom player is easily installed as it is an ‚app that family and friends
use‛ (Case I-32).
Table 3.6
Programs Used on Computer/Laptop
Number of responses
Word
50
23
Excel
16
Powerpoint
12
Hangul
11
Gom Player
11
Windows Player
10
Adobe PDF
6
Adobe Photoshop
10
Adobe Flash
18
Photoshop (GTQ)
1
HERO3000
1
Solid Works
1
Visureal C++
1
Others
2
N/A
19
From 50 Interviewees (multiple answers
included); ‘Others’ include typing program and
watching videos
In a survey with people with computer experiences, the most common
computers were from China, then South Korea, the United States and lastly North Korea.
The significant difference between Chinese products (25), South Korean products (6) and
American products (4) indicate that Chinese computer products are increasing. However,
18 out of 50 people surveyed do not remember the manufacturing country for their
computers.
Table 3.7
Computers by Manufactured Countries
51
Number of responses
South Korea
North Korea
United States46
China
N/A
6
1
4
25
18
Among the computer products that North Korea produces, the tablet PCs
promoted by the government falls short of advertised standards. This is because,
despite the low appeal of tablet PCs and weak touch screen functions, the price is
exorbitant.
A: ‚I was in University was when they started selling tablets but I didn’t even think
of buying those because only people with money purchased those.‛
A: ‚Tablet use was not widespread then.‛
Q: ‚Was it around 1 percent?‛
A: ‚I don’t know what it is like now, but back then almost nobody used them.‛
Q: ‚If class is taken into account, only the very top or special classes use them.‛
(Case I-26)
‚Before I came, I saw someone using a tablet in Pyongyang. It is something to see
someone use a laptop but a tablet pc is very out of the ordinary. Despite all the
technological advances that North Korea has made, its touch screen tech is still
underdeveloped. ‛
(Case I-5)
Out of the total computers used, most were used computers, showing a purchase
rate three times higher than that of new computers. Computer user respondents replied
that computer memory ranged from 1G to 16G, and the booting speed averaged 15
seconds, which wasn’t fast enough for them (Case I-22).
Table 3.8
46
Second-hand Computers
‚One in the principal’s office, another one somewhere. From Dell, mine was Dell too.‛ (South Pyongyang
Province, Case I-15).
52
Number of responses
New
Used
N/A
8
23
19
Table 3.9
Number of
responses
Computers by Size of Internal Memory
1G
2G
4G
8G
16G
Don’t know
N/A
2
5
5
4
5
13
20
Although difficult to confirm, the minimum price for a computer starts at 250,000
KRW and the maximum reaches up to 7,600,000 KRW. After reviewing answers from 50
respondents, the average prices ranges from 250,000 KRW to 2,000,000 KRW but the
most commonly traded computer was priced around 400,000 KRW. In yuan, the prices
would range from 300 CNY, 400 CNY, 600 CNY to 1,200 CNY. US Dollar prices would
also be diverse, averaging $100, $ 200, $300, $400 up to $950. North Korean citizens
purchase computers through marketplaces and by bartering with acquaintances. The
state rarely distributes computers and in the case that it does, it is for a specific situation
or reason. It was confirmed that computers could be purchased at department stores
after an in-depth interview and background check.
‚They sell computers at the marketplaces and at department stores. Places like
Yangsoon departments store and Moran Department stores sells computers.
Yangsun is the best department store and it is deeply tied with tradition.‛
(Case I-13)
53
Table 3.10
Channels of Computer Purchase
Distributed by
an official
institution
Purchased from
countries
overseas
Purchased from
Jangmadang/mark
etplace
Obtained from an
acquaintance/
Through barter
N/A
2
7
14
12
8
Number of
responses
Laptops can also be acquired through acquaintances or through the black market.
It is legal to purchase fans, rice cookers, and other electronics from places such as
electronic dealerships, computer information centers, and department stores. However,
citizens prefer to purchase computers through informal means rather than going
through the registration process with the government. Controversial items with a high
risk potential are bartered and traded in homes. Oftentimes, North Koreans who went
overseas to China or even Chinese citizens bring back computers to North Korea. North
Koreans also directly buy computers from China through middlemen and acquaintances.
In the case of the people in Case I-1, they would often purchase goods that were
illegally smuggled across the border to Hamgyong or would buy goods from people
who interact with foreign companies.
Table 3.11 Channels of Laptop Purchase
Number of
responses
Purchased
from an
individual
Distributed by
an official
organization
Purchased
from
countries
overseas
Purchased from
Jangmadang/
marketplace
Obtained from an
acquaintance/bar
ter
N/A
1
1
5
8
6
32
Chinese laptops are the most popular. South Korean, US, Japanese and North
Korean laptops are also used. Furthermore, there are two times as many used computers
than there are new computers. There are many used computers, cell phones and other
IT equipment in use in North Korea. The memory size for computers range from 1G to
16G but the most commonly used memory sizes are 2, 4 and 8G.
54
Table 3.12
Laptops by Manufacturing Countries
Number of responses
South
Korea
United
States
North
Korea
Japan
China
N/A
4
2
1
1
13
31
Table 3.13 Laptops by Previous Condition: New or Used
Number of responses
New
Used
N/A
6
13
32
Table 3.14 Laptops by Size of Internal Memory
Number of responses
1G
2G
4G
8G
16G
Don’t
know
N/A
2
4
4
4
2
4
34
Laptops have a diverse price range, minimum starting at $40 USD (320,000 KPW)
and up to $1,000 (8 million KPW). The average price range in yuan is between 1,000 CNY
and 2,000 CNY (2.4 million KPW) and in dollars it is USD $150 to USD $300. Computers
are sold at a higher price than they are worth on the global market.
Among the computer accessories in North Korea, the most popular items are
laptop bags and screen protectors. Among students and youth, many of them
accessorize their laptop with laptop bags and stickers.(Case I-22) On the other hand,
because they can’t publicly carry around a laptop, some people said accessories are
pointless. So, to hide their laptop they wrap it in ‚the most ugly bag‛. (Case I-23)
55
Table 3.15
Computer Accessories by Type
Number of responses
Protector pouch
16
Cooler stand
1
Protective glasses
Autotransformer
Screen protector
1
1
11
Stickers
1
N/A
23
In North Korea, the most popular mouses are connected to the computer via
cables.
Table 3.16 Mouses by Type
Number of responses
Wireless
Cabled
Don’t
know
N/A
5
26
3
18
In Case I-22, 20 female university students were asked about their computer
usage. The average was three times a week and five hours each time. Computer usage is
higher among younger generations.
However, if general surveys are inspected, it is clear that computer usage is still
not widespread. In 2009, Kim Jung Sook University’s computer science departments had
around 40 students but only five computers (I-4) were being used, ‚In reality out of 100
people, only around eight have access to a computer‛ (I-1). However, it remains difficult
to calculate an accurate percentage in relation to computer usage. Furthermore, in Case
I-19 conducted from people living in Musan district of North Korea’s border province,
almost no one had computers in 2010 and companies and factories did not use
56
computers. In addition to the disparity in computers between rural and urban areas,
there are stark differences within each district as well. This is the result of power
shortages (Case I-17).
‚(On the computer ownership of peers) There are lots of people who don’t have
computers in rural areas. Three out of ten people have computers‛
(Case I-8, Ryanggang province)
‚(Computer use and ownership in school) The option for computers does not
exist. There is no electricity. There are only a few computers. There are about 20
computers in the computer lab. Computers can be used for simple document
editing and games….. (Printer Use) Printers cannot be used for personal purposes.
You must report to the managing director to be able to use the agency’s printer.‛
(Case I-13)
Electricity poses a problem for North Koreans trying to use electrical devices.
Since electricity supply is unstable in North Korea, citizens often use generators and car
batteries to power their devices. Household batteries and motorbike batteries are also
often used. When these means are unavailable, North Koreans generally wait for the
power to come back on to used their devices.
Table 3.17 Electric Power Supply for Computers/Laptops
Number of responses
Used only when electricity is provided
2
Domestic battery (called Wangtta in North Korea)
Industrial motor
6
8
Automobile battery
4
Car battery
8
Electricity from coal mines
1
Other
8
N/A
18
When surveyed, 19 people lacked knowledge on computer updates and 14
computer users stated that their experience with updating computers was limited.
57
Table 3.18 Experience/Methods of Computer/Laptop Upgrade
Number of responses
Don’t know
19
CD
3
USB
1
None
2
Through an acquaintance
3
Through a technician or an individual for a fee
2
Other
3
N/A
19
Computers are updated by acquaintances working in companies or high
school/university students who are studying computers. Computer replacement occurs
to increase memory and performance. The computer models introduced included
memory that started with 40 Gigabytes, then 80, and 160 for the new models (Case I-22).
There are also laptops that have 160 G of memory. Samsung and LG computers are
being introduced into North Korea. (Case I-22)
Computer and laptop repairs are conducted through personal connections and
payments. This occurs six times more often than repairs through dealerships. This is
because computers are used without proper registration and users seek to avoid
government controls on computer use. In cases where computers are repaired through
personal acquaintances rather than professional services, payment takes the form of
food, alcohol, or personal favors rather than money. (Case I-25) In cases where repairs
are not possible, computers are destroyed.(Case I-23)
Table 3.19 Methods of Computer/Laptop Repair
Number of
responses
Through a
private
technician for
a fee
From a
service
center
Irreparabl
e
Selfrepair
Through an
acquaintance
From the place
of purchase
for a fee
N/A
25
1
4
7
1
4
15
58
In cases where students accidentally break a computer, repair costs are covered
by the student responsible. That is why some students who come from poor
backgrounds are unable to take computer classes. (Case I-20)
When asked about commercials relating to computers on TV, only 12 out of 50
respondents answered that they had seen any. ‚In addition to the North Korean
propagation of the Red Star PC [North Korean branded PC], I saw a video of Kim Jong Il
talking about computer education in schools across the country when he was visiting
Gumsung First Junior High School [Gifted High School Education] and inspecting the
Computer Class.‛ ‚One person stated that he had seen news that Pyongyang’s elite high
schools were teaching computer skills in accordance to the new information age‛. ‚I saw
on the news that people were browsing information through computers in the Grand
People’s Study House *public library+.‛ ‚I saw Computerized Numerical Control (CNC)
from industrial systems promotional materials.‛ ‚TV propaganda says that the CNC era
has now come and that computers control machines instead of humans.‛ North Korea
emphasizes the importance of computer education, focusing on the utilization of
information gathering and propagation and distribution of software technology for
development to meet the demands of the information technology age.
Table 3.20 Experience of Computer Endorsement: TV Broadcasts and
Propaganda
Number of responses
Yes
No
N/A
12
24
14
Computer classes, knowledge, activeness, and awareness do not seem to
correlate to the level of publicity announced by the government. 30 out of 50 people
responded that they had felt this way about computers and only five replied otherwise.
The propaganda and publicity statements were ‚Establish yourself in your land and set
your eyes to the world,‛ and ‚Universities must adopt advanced technology so that
anyone can learn to handle a computer‛. ‚After visiting Russia in 2001, Kim Jong Il stated
that the 21st century is about information technology‛ and that is how North Korea’s
focus on computers developed. The phrase ‚establish yourself in your land and set your
eyes to the world‛ became a slogan relating to computers and information technology.
59
Table 3.21 Experience of Computer Endorsement: Slogans and Speeches
Number of responses
Yes
No
N/A
5
30
15
Internet use is not allowed in North Korea, the intranet is allowed but out of the
50 people surveyed only six reported using it. Among intranet users, only 2 used it daily
and the rest stated that they used the intranet once a month. There were cases in the indepth interviews where people had only heard about the intranet but never experienced
it.
Table 3.22 Experience of Internet Usage
Yes
No
N/A
0
29
21
Number of responses
Table 3.23 Experience of Intranet Usage
60
China
1
All Country
2
Pyongyang
8
Hyesan
Chongjin
Hamhung
4
7
6
Sinuiju
1
Wonsan
3
Hoeryong
4
Musan
1
Onsong
1
Kilju
1
Pyongbuk
1
Pyongnam
1
Hwangbuk
1
Hwangnam
1
Table 3.24
# of responses
Kaesung
1
Pyongsung
1
No answer
34
Period of Intranet Usage
Once a
month
Twice a
month
Sometimes
Everyday
No answer
3
1
1
2
43
The outcome of low intranet use in North Korea is due to its unavailability in
common households. Intranet is only available in tourist centers, schools and workplaces.
Intranet use is especially limited because even some schools and workplaces do not
have intranet and its use varies among different districts.
Table 3.25 Geographic Areas Available for Intranet
# of responses
Public Offices
Workplace
School
Other
No answer
4
1
4
1
42
From 50 Interviewees (multiple answers included); ‘Others’ includes library
‚(Computer use in Schools) It is impossible. It is only possible in district libraries.
There were computers in early 2013.‛
(Ryanggang province, I-13)
‚North Korea’s internet only occurs in Pyongyang in the form of intranet.‛
(Onsong, North Hamgyong province, Case I-20)
‚I’ve always known that North Korea’s internet was limited. I have heard the word
Internet before but I only heard rumors of it. Some rumors said that In South
Korea you could use the internet for anything and that North Korea had internet
but was limited to military purposes such as hacking and other subversive
purposes.‛
(Hoeryong, Case I-21)
61
It appears that North Korea’s intranet is accessed through telephone modems or
fiber optic cables. There seems to be a transitional phase between modem use and
fiber optic use.
Table 3.26 Communication System of Intranet
Fiber-optic
cable
Cable modem
Don’t Know
None
N/A
2
3
5
1
39
# of responses
Most interviewees stated that the intranet loading speed was within ten seconds.
The average loading time was one minute, while a few answered the uploading speed
was of two seconds. When the connectivity was strong, a page could upload in 10
seconds and when it was weak it could take up to a minute.
.
Table 3.27 Intranet Speed
# of responses
Longer than a minute
1
Within a minute
2
Within 10 seconds
3
Within 2 seconds
1
N/A
43
The intranet is used for searching documents, listening to lectures, chatting, file
transfers and personal activities. As mentioned before, it is also used to deliver and
transfer the Party’s instructions.
Table 3.28 Applications of Intranet
# of responses
Listening to lectures
Information search
File transmission
62
1
4
2
2
1
1
43
Online chatting
Online community participation
Sharing the party’s messages
No answer
However, document searches are possible only in elite university such as Kim Ilsung University, because most places lack intranet facilities.
A: ‚In North Korea, documents go to the Grand People’s Study House (the Central
library in Pyongyang?‛
Q: ‚Really?‛
A: ‚But if contact is made, then you can access the internet library and conducted
searches. Although my university is one of the top universities in North Korea, it is
small and our electronic library does not work very well. But In universities like
Kim Il Sung University, electronic libraries are set up very well and if you go to the
library with a computer, you can access it. My friend who goes there said that you
can access Kim Il Sung’s excerpts among other documents but I never got the
chance to go there.‛
(Case I-26)
The places where you can use the intranet are also places where computer
classes and computer clubs take place so there is a limit to usage. (Case I-28)
Q: ‚Is it possible to chat online?
A: ‚Chatting is possible.‛
Q: ‚Is there a chatting window or do you send and receive messages‛
A: ‚Messages are sent and received separately. I only tried using it once when I
went in to the electronics lab.‛
Q: ‚Can you go in and out freely?
63
A; Not everyone can go in because there is a computer club and the members of
that club have the key to the room so it is selective as to who can enter.‛ (Case I28)
Internet can only be used once training is received. To access internet there are
complex procedures that requires your name, password and other necessary processes.
A: ‚The place I was at only had one server but it was not used often because it
was just used to show students how to connect to the internet and how it works
and would be disconnected after the demonstration.‛
Q: ‚Have you ever seen university computers connect to the intranet?‛
A: ‚Yes‛
Q: ‚What’s it like? When you are connecting?‛
A: ‚It is very noisy while connecting.‛
Q: ‚Is it a loud noise?‛
A: ‚It wasn’t the sound that was particularly loud but the connection requires your
name and password and there were other people learning about the process and
the instructors were being loud.‛
Q: ‚I know there is an internal network but I want to know how someone can
access and use it.‛
A: ‚There is only one server in our university and all the computers are connected
to that. My professor instructed us to follow certain directions to open a program
and enter in some information and somehow it got connected. I don’t remember
the procedure very well.‛
(Case I-26)
It is hard to verify if the intranet is used to send and receive mail and the
addresses used to do so. Surveyed people only used the intranet to search documents,
play games and listen to lectures. However, these answers do not reveal the normal uses
of the intranet. It can be assumed that documents and file exchanges on the intranet do
not occur smoothly.
64
Table 3.29 Experience of Email Usage in Intranet
# of responses
1
1
2
1
45
Don’t know
Reading documents/Playing games only
Never used
Don't remember
No answer
Intranet, like other IT, can be supervised and monitored. There were only a small
sample of Intranet users and one of them was under strict surveillance.
Table 3.30 Experience of Email Surveillance in Intranet
# of responses
3.
Yes
No
Don’t know
No answer
1
4
4
41
Control Regulation on Computer/Laptop Usage
In North Korea, the censorship of computers and laptops is carried out by the
Police, the State Security Department, the 109 United Joint Commander (Martial), the
108 Office Martial, the 71 Station, and the Non-Socialist Groups (Geruppa) formed in
each city. Out of these, the most mentioned organization by the survey respondents is
109 Professional Enforcement Joint Command, consisting of the Party, Intelligence,
Prosecutors, and Security members. Furthermore, there is also 1118 Censoring Agency
(Hoeryong, Case I-21) which mainly inspect drugs but is involved in all other censoring.
A: ‚The 1118 Censoring Agency is in charge of investigating drug trafficking but
they are also in charge of looking into computer usage‛
Q: ‚So you’re saying that the 1118 Censoring Agency looked at drugs but now
they are looking into computers?‛
A:‛Yes, they (computers) are treated the same, if caught with one by 1118 then
you won’t survive but the 109 can be solved with money.‛
65
While 109 developed from the need to solve local problems, the 1118 received
direct orders from Kim Jong Il and performed extensive and strict security agency work
as the Geuruppa. As a strict security and censoring agency, those who are caught by
1118 must be punished by the law while in others agency such as the 109, people can
avoid punishment through bribery. The 1118 will definitely catch people who possess
censored items such as drugs, telephones, CDs, and computers.
Q: ‚Not just computers?‛
A: ‚Yes, everything‛
Q: ‚Cellphones and storage devices as well.‛
The agency’s methods of censorship include random home searches at any given
time by representatives of the agency. Documents, hard drives and computer content
and programs are checked. When there is a serious censorship issue, other agencies are
often involved. In the case of agency or censorship inspections, which occur once or
twice a month, owners will remove their hard drive prior to the inspection. These
inspections occur as a result of reports from neighbors and occur in the dead of night so
the chances of getting caught with contraband are high. Inside universities, the youth
league is charged with maintaining discipline inside schools and is tasked with
censorship.
Q: ‚Do they have inspections in the dormitories?‛
A: ‚There are lots of inspections by the Youth league but there are always ways to
avoid these inspections.‛
Q: ‚Is it because the Youth League can be friendlier?‛
A: ‚It’s nothing like that. Anyways if you are caught by inspections internally
within the university, they have the propensity to resolve it internally but if you
are caught outside the university, then the university has no power to protect you.
Universities don’t want their own students to be caught.‛ (Case I-26)
A main reason for computer and laptop censorship and searches are South
Korean music, movies and dramas. South Korean movies and dramas are seen as the
main danger to the North Korean system and culture.
66
Table 3.31 Causes of Penalties from Computer/Laptop/USB/SD Card
Censorship
# of responses
South Korean music, movies, TV shows
Chinese music, movies, TV shows
22
3
Publications from countries overseas
1
1
2
26
Porn
None
No answer
In addition, Chinese music, movies, foreign books and computers are a gateway
to outside information. Possession of these items are considered illegal (Case I-23). That
is why districts such as Rason, where the flow of electronics and information is abundant,
have strict surveillance. (Case I-1)
A: ‚Yes, it is a secret. It is a lie to say that there is no ‘bad’ movie or music in the
hard drive. That is why simply possessing these movies and music is a secret.‛
(Case I-23)
On the other hand, people caught in crackdowns do not seem to undergo severe
punishment. People who have experience buying and selling computers (Case I-23) state
that they were fined 700 won, not for owning computers, but for selling them, and they
were further banned from commerce. To reiterate, the purpose of computer censorship
investigations is to discover the steps in computer commerce in order to block the sale
of computers.
A: ‚The person was arrested and they came to me with him. The agency
questioned me about where I bought computers. I was insulted. I was surprised.
They wanted to know who I bought my computer from and who that person
bought it from as well.‛
Q: ‚Are they connected?‛
67
A: ‚I realized from the agency’s investigations that they believed I bought
computers from Hamheung University students. I paid a 700 won fine.‛
(Case I-23)
If any content that breaches censorship laws such as South Korean movies and
dramas are discovered, then punishment is severe. Punishment is given according to the
use of electronic machinery rather than ownership. Punishment is less severe if caught
watching Chinese or Indian movies and dramas. If caught with South Korean movies or
dramas, electronic devices are confiscated, large fines are placed on owners, and
confinement to a labor camp or incarceration in a correctional facility is possible47.
Through bribery, people can avoid or mitigate punishment. In one case, a 14 year old
was sent to correctional facilities for watching South Korean dramas and listening to
South Korean music (Hoeryong, Case I-21).
To avoid government inspections, computer owners do not register their
computers and laptops with the government. They tend to use them inside their homes
and take out the hard drives in desktops and store content in USBs to avoid censorship.
Also, people compress files and change the form and name of the files to avoid the
government’s inspections. When they want to watch these files, they revert it to its
original form. On other occasions, people tend to use CD players and other devices
more than computers to watch videos.
47
According to Case I-19, censorship from videos on average results in 6 months in an internment camp,
a year at
most.
68
IV.
EXTERNAL STORAGE DEVICES
In-depth research on external storage devices in North Korea is still lacking.
Mobile storage devices most likely developed from 2007 to 2009, along with the use of
computers48. In the upper class, people use tablet PCs and MP5 devices to watch videos.
As small devices like MP5s and Micro-stick cards appeared 49, a variety of storage
devices are being used more and more in North Korea.
1.
USB
Before wide distribution of USBs, data was mostly shared by physical transfer of
computer hard drives, floppy disks, and CDs. Programs publicized during computer skill
tournaments were also used (Case I-27).
A: ‚Yes, and when teachers brought programs, it was through computer
tournaments held by the city, or other official institutions. They invite schools in
Hoeryong and prepare 20 some computers. Then teachers would borrow one
from the competition, so that they install the program on computers in our
school. Yeah, that’s how they did it in the beginning.‛
(Case I-27)
USB usage in North Korea is suspected to have started from 2008 onward, about
the same time as when MP3s were beginning to penetrate the country (Case I-27),
during which time most of the available USBs were from Japan in used conditions (Case
I-30). USBs mostly enter North Korea through Sinuiju, Rason, and Hyesan, from where
they get distributed into other cities. (Case I-5, 17).
‚They come from Rason and Hyesan. When the market price for computers goes
up, we talk to traders in Rajin or Sonbong to get a few, then we sell those back.
So people with some money can make more profit through re-selling.‛
‚It’s especially easy to sell out in Chongjin if you lower the price a little, because
that’s where the devices are distributed to other places. So it’s relatively easy to
make money in Chongjin.‛
48
‚Realities of North Koreans’ Exposure to Foreign Information and Change in Awareness,‛ North Korea
Strategy
th
Center’s 4 Academic Conference, September 29, 2011, p. 67.
49
Dongwan Kang, ‚Change in North Korean Society,‛ RFA, December 29, 2014.
69
(Case I-17)
USB usage in North Korea is suspected to have started from 2008 onward, about
the same time as when MP3s were beginning to penetrate the country (Case I-27).
During this time, most of the available USBs were of used condition from Japan(Case I30). USBs mainly enter North Korea through Sinuiju, Rason, and Hyesan, from which
they get distributed into other cities. (Case I-5, 17).
According to the survey results on experience with USBs, most people responded
that they used them on a daily basis. Three times a week and once a month were the
next two most frequent answers. It is notable that the difference between the two is
quite large.
. Table 4.1
Experience of USB Usage
Once a
month
Once a
week
3 times a
week
Twice a
month
Everyday
Other
N/A
7
6
10
4
12
1
10
# of responses
From 50 Interviewees (multiple answers included); ‘Others’ include seeing friends studying computer science use it
Extrapolating from this finding, the number of people who own USB should be
similar to those who have MP3 or MP4.
‚About the number of people who have MP3/4. If you have that, then you
probably all had access to USB.‛
(Case I-1)
Because the number of people who possess and use computers is not so
significant, some view owning USBs as ‚bluffing their way‛ (Case I-2), while another
stated that ‚90% of people in Musan have one‛ (Case I-17). There is a large discrepancy
between regions, therefore we cannot generalize this observation. Case I-16, who spent
13 years in the North Korean army, responded that he had not seen a USB before,
indicating the still-closed nature of the army in North Korea.
USBs used in North Korea are predominantly made in China with some from
South Korea and even North Korea. Twenty-seven respondents had owned new USBs,
while nine had used USBs. These responses show how much easier it is to obtain new
70
data storage devices, unlike cell phones and computers, due to their relatively low price
and shorter usage period.
Table 4.2
USBs by Manufactured Countries
South Korea
North Korea
China
N/A
3
2
37
11
# of responses
Table 4.3
USBs by Previous Condition: New or Used
# of responses
New
Used
No answer
27
9
14
In North Korea, the memory sizes of USBs sold vary from 256MB to 16GB, with
4GB used the most, and 8GB being the second. This may suggest a shift of preference
towards larger data storage.
Depending on the memory size prices differ from 3,000 won to 150,000 won.
From 2006 to 2009, 2GB USBs sold for 20,000 – 23,000 won, 4GB for over 30,000 won
(Case I-27, 32), and 8GB for 120,000 won. SD cards are much cheaper than USBs, the
former could be purchased with a reading device for 80 won (Case I-32).
Table 4.4
# of responses
USBs by Size of Memory
256MB
512MB
1GB
2GB
4GB
8GB
16GB
N/A
1
1
5
10
20
11
5
10
USBs are most often purchased from marketplaces, with acquisition from an
acquaintance or through barter, the next most common method of purchase.
Participants reported differing experiences. One remarked that USBs were sold legally at
a marketplace along with other basic everyday items, while another stated they could
71
not be bought or sold publicly. Some explained that such devices were found in
department stores, a claim which others contradicted by describing that because legal
business was limited, USBs needed to be traded in secret.
Table 4.5
Channels of USB Purchase
Purchased from
Purchased from
Obtained from an
countries
Jangmadang/
acquaintance/Through
overseas
Marketplace
barter
2
27
10
# of responses
N/A
13
Those in possession of USBs listed storage of Chinese movies and TV shows as
their main use. It was also used often for storing music and South Korean movies and TV
shows. Others reported storing E-books in their USBs although that response was less
common. Video storage was more common.
Table 4.6
Purposes of USB Usage
Storage for
Chinese
movies/TV
shows
Storage for
South
Korean
movies/TV
shows
Storage for
music
Storage for
e-books
For
business
Other
N/A
1st
16
10
11
2
1
1
9
2nd
11
12
15
0
0
1
1
3rd
9
11
14
2
1
0
3
4th
2
2
2
10
3
6
5
5th
1
6
1
2
6
7
27
It was found that USBs were preferred over DVDs for their ability to hide during
unannounced searches. When observing the survey results on the experience of USB
censorship, twenty-seven had never experienced surveillance, while six had.
]
72
‚It’s just uncomfortable. Say you’re watching illegal contents on CD, and the
police come and stops electricity from outside the house, I can’t take out the CD.
It’s stuck inside the machine. But with USBs, if I notice something or somebody, I
can eject it from the device and hide it somewhere in no time.‛
(Case I-30)
Table 4.7
Experience of USB Censorship
# of responses
Yes
No
No answer
6
37
7
In North Korea, USBs are first purchased legally in the market. Afterwards, new
content such as South Korean or Chinese videos are inserted separately in ‚electronic
houses‛.50 The content costs around 4,000 won but the size of the content and what it is
about seem to affect the price as well (Case I-10). Some stated that they stored online
games (Case I-2).
‚I put music in here. If you have a little bit of money, anyone can get one. They
mostly use cheap USBs, but CD can go up to 20,000 won each. Those can hold up
to 1,000 songs. They (sellers) put Chinese or South Korean music or movies in
back, and North Korean stuff in front. The prices all depend on its capacity.‛
(Case I-10)
Because sharing USB contents needs a computer to copy files, such activity can
be an easy target for the police’s surveillance as they know the locations of computers in
the area. Thus, file sharing is usually performed among close friends (Case I-32). Some
use a device with a remote control developed in China that copies content in different
data storage devices and transfers them to another format, for instance from CD to USB.
‚Oh yes, yes, USB. There’s copy function in the DVD recorder itself. So I’d put a
CD in and insert a USB beside, then what’s in the CD can be saved in the USB,
too.‛
50
According to Case I-17 (Musan, ‘electronics house’ offers contents like movies that are approved by the
government.)
73
(Case I-32)
There are a select few who use a portable hard drives, an item only permitted for
those with high enough social status to go abroad. An advantage of a hard drive is that
the contents can be privately saved with a passcode.
‚They’re not high enough to be considered an elite, but people who can go
abroad to work or study can have a hard drive. They download movies or TV
shows and set a passcode, so only they can access it.‛
People who’d lived outside and came back to go to university here have different
thoughts about North Korea and they’re much more sensitive to foreign information. I
was in Pyongyang until 2010; USBs were rare at that time. Most of the time USBs contain
pictures and some Chinese or South Korean media, hidden.‛(Case I-2)
2.
SD Cards
Along with USBs, SD cards are used to save videos, music, pictures, etc. in North
Korea. They can also connect to a recorder that was released in 2014 in North Korea for
usage. Users prefer USBs and SD cards due to their small size, which allows them to be
hidden in books or wallets. Therefore, some believe that these devices are widespread
and approximately 60 to 70% of the population possess them. (Case I-30)
‚That, now, also has different gigabite numbers. Buy them all separately then
download and when watching, connect them and when not, disconnect and hide
them.‛
(Case I-29)
A: ‚(related with the number of users in Hoeryoung as of 2014) Um, well. I also
don’t know and can’t meet sort of… Around 40 t o50? But usually some people
have a lot of things like memory and USBs. About 3? Around 5 each I also used
about 3 each, there are people with more or others that can’t buy as much, some
don’t have any and memory, USB memory, and cards are sort of widespread. So
about 70? Around 60 to 70%?‛
Q: ‚How about SD cards?‛
A: ‚No, so memories or SD cards that can be used for memory capacities.‛
74
Q: ‚That’s 60, 70%?‛
A: ‚Yes, that’s what I think. Well, in terms of being clear…‛
Q: ‚Just asking for a sense of it‛
A: ‚Among the people I met, there weren’t any people who did not have
memories and cards‛.
Q: ‚Among the people you met, were there a lot of students?‛
A: ‚Friends and there were some old people, well, there were, well, seniors in the
neighborhood around me.‛
Q: ‚Seniors also have them, things like a USB?‛
A: ‚Yes, almost every household has at least one. Might be over 60~70% but I
can’t be for sure.‛
Q: ‚There are more (CD) Rs?‛
A: ‚But as things like USBs and memories came out CDRs aren’t really used a lot.‛
(Case I-30)
Through the survey, it was observed that North Koreans use SD cards everyday
at least three times a week.
Table 4.8
Experience of SD Card Usage
Once a week
# of responses
4
3 times a week Twice a month
8
1
Everyday
N/A
7
31
Regarding SD card usage, storing music and Chinese shows and movies were
among the most common. SD cards are often used instead of USBs to save music due to
the impact of user equipment. It can be inferred that SD cards are most often used on
recorders that are frequently used to listen to music.
75
Table 4.9
Purposes of SD Card Usage (5 most frequent uses)
Storage for Chinese
movies/TV shows
Storage for South
Korean movies/TV
shows
Storage
for music
Storage for ebooks
For
business
N/A
1st (#of
responses)
4
2
6
1
1
36
2nd
6
5
2
0
0
37
3rd
4
5
4
0
0
37
4th
1
0
0
6
2
41
5th
0
0
1
2
5
40
In the case of Instance I-23, pictures and videos taken by cellphones were
sometimes transported and saved in SD cards. Recently, it seems most devices in North
Korea can incorporate SD cards. Devices that used SD cards for further purposes were
(the first being of greater use) recorders, computers, cell phones, Note-Tells, laptops,
MP3s, and MP4.
Table 4.10
# of
responses
Electronic Equipment for SD Card Usage
Note-tell
Laptop
Recorde
r
5
5
11
Digital
camera
CDR/DV
D
Computer
Cell
phone
MP3/
MP4
N/A
1
1
8
7
2
33
Also, content saved to SD cards were mostly viewed with friends and family or alone.
76
Table 4.11 Persons with Whom the SD Card Contents Were Shared
# of responses
Family
Friends
Relatives
Neighbors
Colleagues
None
N/A
7
7
4
2
2
7
4
Among the SD cards used in North Korea, ones with 4GB were the most
common, followed by 2GB and 8GB. Devices with capacities below 2GB, such as 512MB
SD cards, are used. There are also devices with a higher, 16GB capacities. If a device has
sufficient memory, a Korean soap opera composed of 40 episodes, degraded in quality,
can be saved. Although a soap opera can take 50 to 80 GB in its original form, it can end
up taking up as low as 200 MB when the quality is degraded. However, SD cards can be
expensive and do not last long. For this reason, USBs may be more preferred (Case I-32).
Table 4.12
# of responses
SD Cards by Size of Memory
512MB
1GB
2GB
4GB
8GB
16GB
Don’t
know
N/A
1
1
4
9
3
1
3
33
SD cards and readers can be purchased in markets and through private sellers as
well. The price of an SD card is about 40~60 yuan in Chinese currency and in some cases,
are 100 yuan. There are some traded at 100,000, 200,000 won in North Korean currency.
Table 4.13 Channels of SD Card Purchase
# of responses
Purchased from an
individual
Purchased from
Jangmadang/ marketplace
Don’t know
N/A
2
9
1
38
77
Table 4.14
Channels of SD Card Reader Purchaseyuan
Purchased from
countries
overseas
Purchased from
Jangmadang/
marketplace
Obtained from an
acquaintance/
Through barter
N/A
1
6
1
42
# of responses
By exchanging SD cards, family and friends can share foreign movies and soap
operas. It is also common to purchase SD cards in marketplaces. Trade also occurs
between acquaintances.
Table 4.15
Channels of SD Card Acquisition with Foreign Media Contents
Borrowed
from
family/friends
# of responses
9
Purchased from
Jangmadang/
marketplace
Purchased from
an acquaintance
Made a copy of an
acquaintance’s
N/A
2
35
4
3
When viewing the cases, being caught with an SD card by security showed to be
rare. Like USBs, they are easy to hide due to their small size. Of the two interviewees
who claimed to have been caught, one explained he/she was caught whilst lending it to
his/her friend, while the other said the USB was detected while carrying it in a book.
Table 4.16
Experience of SD Card Censorship
# of responses
Yes
No
N/A
2
16
32
In North Korea, censoring of SD cards is done by same agencies that censor
computers, which includes 108 Professional Enforcement Joint Command, the 109
Professional enforcement Joint Command, the State Security Department, Police
departments, and law enforcement institutions. Usually, the largest cause of punishment
related to SD cards is South Korean soap operas and movies.
78
Table 4.17 Causes of Penalties from SD Card Censorship
South Korean
Chinese movies/TV shows
movies/TV shows
8
1
# of responses
N/A
41
Because of this, there are cases in which people bribe with money, cigarettes, etc.
when receiving punishment and cases in which people serve in jail after standing trial.
Table 4.18
Penalties from SD Card Censorship
Trial/Prison
No
1
3
# of responses
Evaded the punishment with bribes
(money/cigarette)
2
N/A
43
It was revealed that people are less careful in trying to avoid consequences from
using SD cards compared use of other IT devices. However, many people continue to
hide their SD cards, leading to the conclusion that they remain under strict enforcement.
In order to avoid censorship enforcement, techniques such as deleting illegal content or
keeping doors closed when watching were used. SD cards are kept hidden in ceilings,
closets, flowerpots, and other inconspicuous places. In some cases, people hide their SD
cards in their pockets
Table 4.19
# of responses
Measures Taken to Avoid SD Card Censorship
Secretive
possession
Deletion of
the files in
possession
Limiting the usage
to only in secure
place (i.e.
home/remote areas)
None
Other
N/A
3
1
1
4
1
41
79
3.
CD-R, DVD
Around 2007, the same year video recorders were released, CD-Rs became widely
as well (Case I-19). Even though CD-Rs, DVDs, and video recorders were popular, USBs
and SD cards have recently become more preferred (Case I-27). In the case of Cheongjin
in 2013, financial stable cities were the ones who owned these devices (Case I-28).
However, because of memory storage issues, people tend to use CD-Rs more often.
Peoples’ preferences differ depending on the memory storage rather, than usability or
the cost.
‚We use a lot of R(recordables). USBs don’t have a lot of storage space. I used up
to 8GB in North Korea. (However) It’s almost 4GB. I mostly used 4GB.‛
(Case I-5)
‚CDs and video recorders are necessities. So, I think they will be most effective in
spreading information.‛
(Case I-20)
‚Everyone owned a CD-R…. Everyone ended up watching CDs and DVDs.‛
(Onsung, North Hamgyong Province, Case I-20)
Of those surveyed, the largest amount claimed to use CD-Rs and DVDs over
three times a week. The next largest pool claimed to use these devices at least once a
week. These devices are used quite often. It was said that these devices were used about
10 years ago, therefore it can be assumed that they were replaced by similar devices
with the same functions.
Table 4.20 Frequency of CD-R/DVD Usage
Once a
month
# of responses
3
Three
Twice a
Almost Never/
times a
month
Occasionally
week
8
4
1
1
Once a
week
Everyday
N/A
21
3
The primary purpose of CD-Rs and DVDs is to watch Chinese dramas and movies.
The next most common purpose is to listen to music.
80
Table 4.21 Purposes of CD-R/DVD Usage
1st # of responses
2nd
3rd
4th
5th
Storage for South Korean
Storage
Storage for Chinese
movies/TV shows
for Music
movies/TV shows
9
6
23
7
20
11
15
7
7
1
2
2
4
1
7
N/A
12
12
2
7
0
Through CD-Rs and DVDs people are accessing foreign content as there were
numerous cases when family members and friends shared South Korean and foreign
movies and dramas. There were cases when friends sell the contents, but the CD-R and
DVDs are most often shared among family and friends. In other cases, people receive
content either around the border or through soldiers, which is unusual.
Table 4.22 Channels of CD-R/DVD Acquisition with Foreign Media
Contents
Purchased from
Purchased from an
Jangmadang/mar
acquaintance
ketplace
27
16
15
Borrowed from
family/friends
# of responses
N/A
12
These contents are usually sold in CD-Rs and DVDs for 7,000 to 8,000 North
Korean won. However, contents are most of the time sold by the title leaving the buyers
unaware of the content.
A: ‚One costs about 7000 to 8000 won.‛ (KPW)
Q: ‚Do you usually know the contents when you buy it?‛
A: ‚No, I only get to know the title, not the contents. There are labels with ‚R‛ and
those without it.‛
(Case I-19)
81
When people keep their CD-R and DVDs, they mainly focus on hiding them. Most
commonly, people hide them in bookshelves, closets, storage spaces, and under
furniture. Sometimes people bury the CDs underground or hide them in walls by
sticking the wallpaper over them. During regulation periods, people tend to hide them
in isolated outdoor areas more often than indoors. There were also people who broke
the CDs because CD-R and DVDs are one of the cheapest storage devices. However, if
they think the contents won’t cause any problem they leave the CDs anywhere around
the house.
‚People buy CD-R because it’s cheap. (And most people) Break the device after
watching it once. Or they burn it…‛
(Onsung, North Hamgyong province, Case I-20)
And to avoid any sudden intrusion by authorities, people hide the CDs and make
sure they lock the doors. People often watch the CD-R and DVD at night and make sure
no lights or sounds leave the room. They are not openly traded at the market either.
Especially in the case of South Korean media, people only share with very close friends
and family members and they avoid telling others about it. Borrowed CD-Rs and DVDs
need to be returned as soon as possible, and personal belongings should be erased.
4.
Storage Device Usage Controls
Due to the nature of data storage devices that allow saving desired contents
externally they are seen as a way to evade surveillance.
‚I watch things saved in USB, not in (computer).‛
(Case I-32)
‚There’s a military organization that inspects what we watch. They run electricity
in a neighborhood, everyone gets excited and then suddenly cuts it off. They
know we can’t take out what was in the drive, like CDs. Then they’ve got a
handful of people to arrest. There wasn’t a thing like USBs before, super easy to
take out and hide. And if you lock the door, then you have more than enough
time to take the USB out and place it somewhere else before the cops raid in.
Nowadays we use CDs to watch things the country tells us to watch, but for all
other things – bad things – we use USBs. I still get nervous when I see the police
because I had to deal with so many of them while in North Korea. They want
bribes; everyone needs to feed themselves, and for the cops, bribes from people
are how they sustain themselves.‛ (Musan, Case I-17)
82
Surveillance on data storage devices tends to be random, rather than regular and
planned. Punishment related to computer misuse is determined by the contents inside
the computer. Contents related to South Korea result in the most severe punishment.
When one is caught with South Korean media, they must offer heavier bribes. (Case I-5).
‚Games in USB aren’t regulated.‛
(Case I-3)
‚They tell us not to watch it. The worst is CD. There are so many things not to
watch that they regulate CDs severely. With TV channels, you can quickly switch
to another one, but because there’s a physical evidence left when using CDs…
USBs weren’t that common in 2009, so I don’t recall the cops looking for them. By
physical evidence, I mean not the CD reader, but the contents of the CD that’s in
it.‛ (Case I-3)
Survey responses also showed that South Korean movies, music, and TV shows
are a strong cause of penalty from USB censorship. It has been said that ever since 2010,
when videos from South Korea became widely distributed, the surveillance has become
stronger (Case I-19).
‚Five times a year? I lived in Musan and the censorship wasn’t that strong. But
when movies from the South became more available in 2010, they started to
regulate more.‛
(Case I-19)
Table 4.23 Causes of Penalties from USB Censorship
# of responses
South Korean
Chinese movies/music/TV
movies/music/TV shows
shows
25
5
N/A
22
Surveillance often involves physical abuse or fights (Case I-17), expulsion from
the youth union of the Party, some prison time, or even shooting to death.
‚You can get away with the censorship if you offer bribes. For students, they get
expelled from the youth union - no longer allowed to participate. I had a friend,
who really liked South Korean things, and was later punished with expulsion from
83
the union. I know a person who was shot to death for watching South Korean
media.‛
(Case I-11)
Punishments for USB (memory) are sentenced by lawyers, and violators are either
sent to prison or prison.
Table 4.24 Experienced Processes of Penalty from USB Censorship
# of responses
Evaded punishment
Trial/P
Other
through bribes (money)
rison
3
6
4
None
N/A
10
27
But there are cases when people are exempted through bribery. Because the
surveillance is irregular, yet frequent, there have been cases where those not from the
police or the military organization pretend to be patrolling for the sake of their own
benefits.
‚It wasn’t the police on the streets. Those from the youth union were out,
pretending to be from the police, so they could get bribes from people.‛
(Case I-7)
Information about surveillance like above travels by word of mouth, which
increases the need to protect the contents of the storage device. Some set up
passwords, albeit resettable by the government; some go even further by deleting
everything after each use (Case I-2). Some are now using CD readers from China that
work with the internal battery, which allows the CD to be ejected even when the
electricity is cut.
‚You live in one neighborhood, so you know. If there’s a spy, then you know that
too. It’s important to be living a careful life around those.‛
(Case I-7)
‚Sometimes it’s sudden; sometimes the village leader hints to us. Even when I get
caught, I can evade getting punished by giving them a few cigarettes, or by
knowing the right people.‛
(Case I-19)
84
‚With a certain frequency-detecting device, you can see which house is watching
which program. And if another house is playing games, I can sometimes see that
on my screen
too. I think it’s because the frequency transfers too easily. If they’re on patrol and
turn off the electricity, I can get caught because the CD would still be in there.
But there’s a new device from China that has internal battery, in which case the
North Korean government checks for the existence of an internal battery.‛
(Case I-4)
Further, the distribution routes for data storage devices seem to change
depending on where the surveillance is the highest, as is the case for Hoeryong, where
regulation is very strict (Case I-21).
85
V.
RADIO AND OTHER VIDEO DEVICES
Besides cell phones, computers, and storage media, other IT devices used in
North Korea include Note-tells, MP3s, MP4s, sound recorders, and more. Note-tells, EVD
players made in China, are thought to have been brought in around 2008 or 2009 (Case
I-2). A witness stated that Japanese Note-tells were sometimes used (Case I-21). In
December of 2014, a news source on North Korea, the Daily NK, reported that North
Korea declared individuals may use Note-tells 51 . One instance shows Note-tells
becoming forbidden again in 2013 (Case I-1)52, indicating a change in government
measures during that time. It can be inferred that restrictions were put on Note-tells
because the origins of video-viewing is outside of North Korea (Case I-13).
If a household owns a Note-tell, they must be wealthy. They likely have double or
even triple security, allowing proper preparation for enforcement (Case I-17). Note-tells
are preferred because a charged battery can last for 12 hours across several days
without electricity. It is also possible to view North Korean Central Television if an
antenna is installed.
‚Note-tells are censored because many people use them to watch DVDs or
recordings.
Because it can be used even when electricity is unavailable. It can be used for
days when charged by a car battery.‛
Case I-13)
The price of Note-tells greatly differs according to its size, and is usually around
500 Chinese yuan. There are around fourteen types (Instance I-1). Because Note-tells are
only present in very wealthy houses (Case I-17), approximately 5% of the population
owns one (Case I-17). It is notable that much of the youth population owns one.
‚If most children have Note-tells households are willing to go under debt to
purchase them. Even if they don’t have bicycles almost everyone views Note-tells.
Everyone watches together. Gets almost all the data memory.‛ (Case I-16)
Meanwhile, people in North Korean society use Note-tells ‚when tired and
stressed, at least to watch dramas‛ (Case I-10), listen to music by connecting recorders
51
‚North Korea to have allowed usage of Note-tell.‛ Newsis, December 29, 2014.
‚When you’re caught with Note-tell, it results in monetary penalty, and withdrawal of different media
outlets. Even watching North Korean movies on Note-tell can be punishable. Basically, Note-tell is not
allowed.‛ (Case I-17)
52
86
to a television (Case I-3), etc.; the main purpose of recorders are for leisure activities.
Because CDs or recorders are available throughout society (Case I-2), it is seen that
recently, around 80~90% of the North Korean population (Case I-19) or almost everyone
(Case I-17) has them. The price of a recorder was about 30,000 to 40,000 won in 2007.
At the beginning, recorders were only able to play CD-Rs but in 2010, a recorder for
DVDs was introduced and USB usage became possible. (Case I-19)
‚In 2004, electric fans, recorders, color televisions, and black and white
televisions existed. It was said people are unable to purchase them but North
Korea seemed to have had some degree of economic level. This is because
people in rural areas also had them. Recorders were also present in rural areas.
Because there were recorders, there was also R. About 80% of people had a
recorder.‛ (Case I-3)
‚Because recorders are required to listen to music, most families had it.‛
(Case I-17)
Registration of MP3s and MP4s is possible, but they are not widely used due to
complicated procedures. (Instance I-13) About 50% of the population in their 10s or 20s
owns MP3, MP4, and MP5.
‚Yes, my kid, after listening to an MP4 and knowing that my friend’s son had one,
he kept asking me to buy one for him. This one soldier had an MP4 and an MP5.
Even an MP3. Come to think of it, I think they used to watch South Korean
cartoon movies. I think my son, when he was 8, started watching this kids show
with a cat. I think I saw it in Korea...in our house… I don’t know how my kid did it.‛
Recently, the usage of radios has lowered. This shows the diversification of visual
media, similar to changes in patterns of storage media usage.
‚It is because recorders can be used to listen to the radio and there is no
cassette so I don’t really listen to the radio.‛
(Hyesan, Case I-12)
The most common frequency of listening to the radio is once per month which
shows how radio is not a device used frequently in North Korea.
87
Table 5.1
Listened Radio Frequencies
Once a Once a
month week
# of responses
5
2
Three
times a
week
Twice a
month
Every
day
4
5
2
Occasionally
/almost never
Recall
listening in
early
childhood
N/A
1
1
0
Around 2000, radio usage became very popular, and around 70% of the
population owned a radio. In 2003 and 2004, radio usage was higher than that of
recorders. However, it began to declined shortly after (Cheongju, North Hamgyoung
province, Case I-14). When new types of devices came into North Korea, radios and
recorders were the least used devices (Eunsung, North Hamyoung province, Case I-20).
As storage media became available for ordinary citizens, more content became available
as well. It can be seen that the population preferred media watching over listening.
‚I don’t know the use of listening (to radios). … There are (recorders or CDRs).
Without it, I can’t live. You can watch it by connecting to a DVD, so there is no
need for a radio. You can watch it with a recorder. There’s the CD-R, recordables
or recorders, used to enjoy leisurely. But, radios are kind of boring, so that’s why
(I don’t listen to a lot).‛
(Hyesan, Ryanggang province,, Case I-16).
Recently, radios that can change frequencies are most commonly used. Some
radios that have a fixed frequency are modified so they may change frequencies.
Table 5.2
# of responses
88
Types of Radio Sets
Radio that can be
Radio that can
remodelled to
Radio that has set
change
change its
frequency
frequency
frequency
3
2
14
N/A
28
North Korean citizens most enjoyed listening to Radio Free Asia, KBS (Korean
Broadcasting System), and America’s Sori broadcast. Radios were most often used to
listen to foreign broadcasts, as opposed to domestic stations.
Table 5.3
Preferred Radio Frequencies
Radio Station
# of People
KBS
DPRK Station
4
1
FEBC
1
Voice of America
4
Open Radio for North
Korea
2
Furusatonokaze
Radio Free Chosun
Radio Free Asia
Voice of Freedom
Don’t Remember
Don’t Know
N/A
1
1
5
2
1
2
32
Radio is usually available regardless of the area, and there is easy access to
foreign broadcasts.
‚Radio connection is good. If a radio is not fixed, I take it. Everything can be
heard by controlling the wavelength. American and Korean ones can be heard. I
know because I learned how to fix recorders.‛
(Sunchon, South Pyongan province, Case I-15)
Regarding time periods of radio usage, most people listened between the hours
of nine at night and twelve in the morning. The second most common time period was
between six and nine o’clock in the morning. Time period of usage were not during the
day, but before and after.
89
Table 5.4
Time Slots for Radio Frequencies
Night
9PM12AM
Dawn
1AM-6AM
Early
morning
6AM-9AM
Morning
9AM-12PM
Evening 6PM9PM
N/A
9
2
5
1
2
31
# of responses
Radios are usually used with family, but there are many cases of people listening
alone. Because radios are most frequently used before and after office hours, people
listen to them at homes and naturally end up listening with their families.
Table 5.5
Broadcasts
Persons with Whom the Participants Listened to Radio
Family
Relatives
Alone
Colleagues
N/A
14
1
6
1
30
# of responses
People do not usually share information obtained from radios with others, but it
is sometimes shared with their friends, families, and relatives.
Table 5.6
# of responses
Family
Relative
Friend
Significant
Other
Neigh
bor
Colleague
No
one
N/A
4
5
6
1
1
1
8
30
Also there are no cases of cracking down on radios. Radios are not frequently
used in North Korea anymore so it seems that radios are not an important target for
enforcement.
90
Table 5.7
# of responses
None
N/A
22
28
Radios in North Korea are sold after the tuner is disabled but because ‚Barely any
attention is directed towards radio‛ it can be ascertained that restrictions on radios have
been weakened.
Meanwhile, according to a survey of how people view Hackathon technology,53
which will allow people to avoid restrictions on IT devices and view foreign videos, most
answers were positive; for example, some people replied as ‚It seems to be good‛ and
‚(If there is a punishment of getting shot to death) it will still be worth hiding and seeing
if it’s fun‛ (Case I-6). This shows the fact that North Koreans have no resistance to
adopting new technology. Yet the biggest problem in the delivery of Hackathon
television connector chips seems to be the constraints on censorship. Many of those
surveyed mentioned that it would be hard to use if punishments are harsh and
predicted that the North Korean government will increase restrictions on this
technology.
‚I think the government will do an intensive control. I don’t think the government
will let it settle anywhere in the country.‛ (Case I-5)
‚(In terms of punishment) Even scared now so I don’t think I can live with all that
fear if the level of punishment rises.‛ (Don’t you think Pyongyang people would
buy it instead?) Think they’re going to see. Because they have a lot of money and
are high class in society. Moreover, even if they get caught it’s not like they don’t
get punished but it ends at an individual level. If people without anything get
caught there is a punishment. If people have a lot of money, they can solve it by
bribing.‛ (Case I-2)
53
Hackathon, hosted by Human Rights Foundation in San Francisco in the beginning of August, 2014,
brought
forward numerous ideas that can innovate IT industry. Stealth USB, for one, would allow restoration of
already
deleted files, so that when the USB crosses the North Korean boarder and is inspected, it’ empty.
‚Cheolhwan
Kang, North Korea Strategy Centre,‛ RFA, March 25, 2015.
91
‚If the punishment is harsh, they possibly can’t use it. My father is a policeman so
I barely do anything that’s forbidden.‛
(Case I-4)
Some predicted that no matter how good the technology is, people will avoid it if
the level of punishment rises. Other opinions stated that if applications can be
downloaded through smartphones, it would bring a huge effect.
‚Will it be possible to enter? Thought it would be really awesome if an iphone can
at least enter…‛
(North Hamgyong province, Case I-20)
‚No matter how good the technology is, if North Korea strengthens its
punishment, people will avoid listening to it. It would be better to download
applications through iphones instead of using things such as radios.‛
(Onsong, North Hamgyong province, Case I-20)
‚I’m not sure if it’ll be able to enter. I would love to watch it, but I can be in
trouble. I can be shot dead. Before, people were sent to prison camps for
watching Korean movies, now people are sent to labor training discipline centers.
If you copy recordings, you are sent to prison. Some are also sent to political
prison camps.‛
(Case I-18)
‚It’s not that I’m not watching them, I can’t watch them. The fact that the machine
is expensive is one thing but more than that I’m afraid that I might get caught. It’s
fascinating to encounter foreign news. Ordinary people probably can’t see.
Officers probably watch secretly.‛
(Case I-19)
However, people always have the urge to watch new things even if the
punishment is strong. If one is well off financially he or she can solve the problem with
bribery.
‚Of course I watch them. When I watch videos, I know I can be punished, but I still
risk it. I want to watch new things. I do watch them. I don’t think about the
circumstances.‛ (Case I-16)
‚I think snobs would buy them, and the videos are probably well supplied.‛
(Case I-2)
92
VI.
IMPACT OF EXTERNAL INFORMATION ON NORTH KOREANS’ PERCEPTION
AND UNDERSTANDING
According to NKSC's research results on North Korean citizens' state of access to
and awareness of foreign media, the defector participants stated that all kinds of foreign
media are influencing society. Both male and female participants stated that foreign
movies are influencing North Korean society the most. Compared to male participants,
female participants agreed more to the thought that foreign media had a larger impact
in North Korean society.
Picture 6.1 Foreign Media’s Influence in Changing North Korea’s Society
# of responses
Few
Not during
Once or twice Everyd
times a
a normal
a week
ay
year
daily life
5
17
7
1
Once or
twice a
month
16
No
answer
4
A particularly important aspect of this report is the impact of foreign media and its
influence on defection. Media devices that had the largest impact are (in order of most
effective): Korean radio broadcasts, Korean movies, dramas, foreign radio broadcasts,
foreign movies, and foreign magazines. The defectors interviewed stated that people
trust the information received through illegal routes more than the official and legal
routes. The impact of foreign media on each individual can also be found in this report.
The research related to foreign information seen through a North Korea IT survey report
is as follows.
According to the survey results, most people had access to foreign media and
information once or twice every week in North Korea. The second largest response was
having access once or twice every month. It is important to note that seven people
reported that they had access every day. Also, like the responses stating that some
could not have access to foreign media in their normal lives, people could not access
foreign media if they followed the laws and regulations. In order to have access to
foreign media, people responded that illegal actions were required.
93
Table 6.1
Frequency of Exposure to Foreign Information
Once or
Not during
twice a
Everyday
a normal
week
daily life
5
17
7
1
Few times
a year
# of responses
Once or
twice a
month
16
N/A
4
Significant IT devices used to access foreign media are (in order of importance):
CD-R/DVD; USBs; television; radio; SD cards; cell phone; and video recorders. It is
important to notice that even though the use of CD-R/DVD and radios has decreased as
reported, they are still valuable devices to access foreign media. This result reflects that
the general public mostly owns a CD-R/DVD or a radio. Moreover, foreign content are
entering North Korea through USBs.
Table 6.2
Media Used for Collection of Foreign Information
CDR/DVD
# of responses
43
SB
SD
card
Recorde
r
Radio
Comp
uter
7
10
3
12
8
TV
Cell
phone
N/A
17
5
3
The most widespread foreign media were Korean and Chinese movies and
dramas. For example, Koreans dramas viewed are "Stairway to Heaven", "Autumn in my
Heart", "Lovers in Paris", "Lovers in Prague", "All In", etc. Music videos are also popular.
For example, people try to watch Chinese TV programs, movies, and news through CCTV
when the electricity circumstance is good.
Access to foreign information and the levels of control vary based on the region
in question. In particular, regions with better economies had more strict controls,
making it more difficult for people to access foreign media.
"For example, people in Chongjin watch less than those in Kilju. Although Hyesan
has tight controls, everyone watches them by bribing the officials. Besides the
difference in regions, people living in better financial conditions are monitored
more often. If they get caught, they bribe. Some officials monitor and control not
to send people to prison, but to earn money. Chongjin has a better economy
than Hyesan does. It's because there are more exchanges with foreign countries,
94
like Japan, at Chongjin port. Hyesan, itself, doesn't regulate well. It's because of
the people's strong character."
(Hyesan, Ryanggang province, Case I-16)
According to the survey results, despite the tight controls, cities along the
border like Hoeryong and Hyesan have more access to foreign media because of their
geographic location. Results showed that inland areas, like South Pyongan province and
Pyongyang, have access to foreign media.
Table 6.3
# of resp.
Geographic Locations where Foreign Information was Collected
Ryanggang
Province
Hyesan
South
Pyongan
Province
Pyongyang
Hamgh
un
Chongjin
Hoeryong
Othe
r
N/A
10
3
2
3
6
13
5
5
After watching TV programs or videos, people usually shared them with friends.
Other than friends, people exchanged information with trustworthy people like family
members. However, twelve people - a fairly large amount - responded that they shared
with no one.
Table 6.4
# of responses
Subjects with Whom the Broadcasts and Videos was Shared
Family
Relatives
Friends
Acquaintances
No
One
N/A
3
4
24
2
12
9
Accessing foreign information was not a one-time experience. It motivated the
desire to watch and learn more. The common reactions after accessing foreign
information were comparing North Korea and the foreign world, realizing the reality of
North Korean economy and politics, and realizing the fictitious parts in the North
Korean education curriculum. Also, people responded that they began to yearn for the
freedom and capitalism of the foreign world and their desire to live abroad intensified
as their interest grew. Claims that people continue to watch despite tight regulations
"because they have a lot of interest and it is fun‛ (Case I-11), it can be deduced that
95
people will continue to access foreign information and media. The younger people are
sharing the information with their friends after access.
"People do prefer (new information). (People of Suncheon, South Pyongan
province) They think that watching these information is a high standard."
(Case I-15)
"It is true (that people lose their loyalty to the government). There are people
who show their animosity in public. But they don't do it out loud, but murmur it.
They can't do it out loud because there are many people listening in the public.
People living along the border are more open about it. For example, people in
Rajin are mostly open because there are a lot of foreign companies and the city,
itself, is more open."
(Case I-19)
But because North Koreans have less knowledge about South Korea and the
foreign world, people had trouble understanding the content, and some accepted the
information considering despite the fictional aspects of movies and dramas.
"The movie itself is different from real life, you know what I mean?"
(Case I-28)
The change of attitude also changed the manner in which people live. Regarding
attitude, after watching Korean movies and dramas, people began to analyze the current
state of North Korea with a comparative point of view.
"You know how foreigners wear better clothes and eat better food. We can't
ignore that... Here (in North Korea), we only have corn and kimchi. But in the
movies, there are weird restaurants. Also, because I really like motorcycles, I had a
lot of fantasies about South Korea."
(Case I-27)
Now that media content is being viewed often, it has become widely known that
the North Korean education system is teaching false information about the South Korea
economy, and that South Korea is an advanced country. There are conflicting reactions
towards the North Korean government and its policies.
96
There are some people who come across foreign media without thinking about
the problems, and end up desiring for a reformation and change in the North Korean
system with criticism. On the other hand, there are people who accept their current fate.
The viewing of foreign media also affects the manner in which the people of
North Korea live. People began to desire IT devices that allow access to foreign media,
like computers and Note-tells. The importance of these devices in the peer culture is
something worthy of notice. In North Korea, people are sharing and developing new
peer cultures. Many people are beginning to follow hairstyles, fashion, language uses
shown in movies and dramas with friends.
"Many of them (memory devices, Note-tells, etc.) are entering the country, and
without these devices, the youth can't develop friendly relations. Even if North
Korea is socialist, inside, it isn't. If you shake your butt while dancing, you're
exiled. But, since 2005, people felt that it wasn't fun if they didn't get to dance
during birthday parties. In particular, in Hyesan, we only sing South Korean songs.
A lot of memory devices and recordings enter Hyesan. The youth use memory
devices. The adults use recordings because we need to watch them at home."
(Case I-16)
"Kids these days talk like South Koreans, their lifestyles are becoming more poor. "
(Case I-11)
Despite the changes in attitude and perception, sharing and talking about South
Korean videos is very limited. Censorship and social regulations still largely influence the
daily lives of North Koreans.
It is important to focus on the impact South Korean videos have on North
Koreans’ decisions to defect from the country. While 11 out of 50 (20%) of the survey
respondents responded that the videos did not have much influence, the other 39
people (80%) stated that the videos did impact their decisions to defect. The noninfluenced defectors wanted to defect to South Korea, but had to suppress the thought
to avoid being a dissident. On the other hand, the influenced defectors had
synchronized thoughts to improve their and their children's life.
97
VII.
CONCLUSION
1.
North Korea IT Infrastructure and Citizen Usage
It is evident that North Korea’s technology and demand for IT devices has been
increasing rapidly over the last years. The daily life of North Koreans is progressively
being influenced by technology despite the heavy restrictions imposed by the
government to use them in their full capacity. Accordingly, this report focused on how
North Koreans are utilizing, communicating, and obtaining information through devices
such as cell phones, computers, and external storage devices. The primary objective of
this report is to gauge how such devices were being utilized by North Koreans despite
policy and social restrictions. From this information, the most effective media for the
dissemination information were revealed and how external information is instigating
changes in North Korea. The following conclusions can be made from this research.
Cell Phones Accessibility and Use: Means of Personal Communication and
Business Purposes to Obtain and Share Information
Cell phone usage is becoming more common in North Korea. However, the
internet remains banned. From this research, it was concluded that 20 to 30 persons out
of 100 owned a cell phone. This number differs from the statistics given by North
Korea’s telephone company Koryolink stating that only 10 of 100 people own a cell
phone. This is because many cell phones are purchased illegally. It can be predicted that
the number of cell phones in North Korea will increase considerably in the future,
particularly illegal phones brought from China.
The penetration of cell phones differs according to region, age, and social class.
For example, traders in border regions require cell phones to communicate with
partners in China. Because cell phones are considered a luxury item, the upper classes
are overrepresented in their ownership. Notwithstanding, the younger generation is
using cell phones more and more, commonly giving them as gifts or lending them to
friends for special occasions.
There are many different models of cell phones in North Korea. There are flip
phones, sliders, and even touch phones. People can use cell phones to communicate via
voice or through text messaging. New and used products are being widely distributed,
particularly in cities such as Hyesan. Second-hand cell phones are widely available, along
with phone cards that can be bought separately.
Cell phones can be purchased through official and unofficial channels. Officially,
an authorization document must be obtained from an official in charge of the region
and a registration sheet must be submitted to the phone carrier. After registration, a
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special fee must be paid and then the phone is ready for use after receiving its final
approval. Unofficial means of purchase are done via the black market and can be used
immediately after purchase. The membership fee is included in the cell phone purchase
fee. Phone carriers generally supply base minutes that can be recharged at a cost of
3,000 KPW for 200 minutes.
The North Korean government is not using cell phones for propaganda
dissemination, as cell phone communication is not considered an important method of
distributing government messages, slogans, and orders. The only prohibitions given by
the government regarding their use are ‚not to use *the cell phones+ for impure
recordings‛. However, North Koreans still feel that the phone conversations can be
wired tapped and random checks are still carried out by the government. Despite the
dangers of censorship and surveillance, North Koreans are commonly using cell phones
to talk to their friends and family members, as well as for business purposes to obtain
market prices and obtain updated information on merchandise. Secondarily, cell phones
are used to take pictures, videos, play games and for personal entertainment. Thus, cell
phones have great potential to be means of sharing information between North Korean
citizens rapidly, becoming means of obtaining on-time information when there is no
internet availability.
Computers Accessibility and Use: Contrast between government development
policies and actual accessibility and usage of average North Koreans
In North Korea, Computers and laptops, similar to cell phones, are a status
symbol. While the North Korean government boisterously alleges more technology and
computer education for its citizens, computer knowledge and understanding remains
limited by average North Koreans. Most household computers are bought from China
through merchants, and are generally used to watch movies, dramas, and to play games.
North Korean citizens prefer to purchase computers illegally to avoid registration and
use it for personal entertainment purposes.
On the other hand, some elite schools own computers that are used to teach
students Photoshop, CAD, and technical maintenance of computers. Internet browsing
and use is not being taught in schools. Computers are used in factories and businesses,
but use is limited due to insufficient education for computer maintenance and use.
Notwithstanding, government departments receive a number of computers in order to
connect to Pyongyang. The North Korean government is making deliberate efforts to
increase the technological capacities and use them in the intelligence service industry.
Given that computers have potential to allow the government to execute more efficient
communication, it is probable that usage of computers will increase the country.
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The most common operating system seen in North Korean computers is
Windows XP. North Korea’s Red Star is also common. However, Red Star’s performance
is still limited and it is difficult to use. Additionally, compared with Windows, Red Star
has low image quality and does not have sufficient capacity to play video games.
Despite this, the use of Red Star is high because surveillance and regulations are
implemented with them. Computer users have shown to be familiar with Microsoft
Office, Hangeul, Adobe, and Gom Player software.
There are many users that use Windows. The Red Star, while working as an
operating system in the information industry, constitutes heavy government
propaganda. Such methods of propaganda are paramount for the government to assure
that technology is only being used for government purposes rather than personal
interest. The Intranet is not easily accessible to average citizens. It is only available to
tourist centers, schools, and work places.
External Storage Devices, Radios, and Other Devices Accessibility and Use:
Increasing small-sized external storage devices and decreasing use of radio
Storage devices such as CDs, USBs, and SD cards are brought in from China and
used by North Koreans to watch videos and listen to music on a daily basis. Digital
storage devices began penetrating North Korea during between 2007 and 2009, and
have diversified since. Nevertheless, accessibility and usage vary greatly according to
region. External storage devices have been found to be used most commonly in cities
such as Sinuiju, Rason, and Hyesan. These regions are known to be active economic
cities.
Currently, CDs, DVDs, and recorders are seen as essential commodities. USBs and
SD cards have become widely used, particularly from 2008 when mp3 and mp4s became
popular. Due to increased supply from China, the price of USBs is decreasing.
Consequently, demand is increasing. 4G USBs are the most common USBs used, but
8GB and 16GB are becoming increasingly preferred. Content can be purchased via the
black market at specialized stores such as ‚Stores with Computers‛ or ‚Electronic
Purchase‛ stores.
In North Korea, computers, laptops, and storage devices are strictly censored and
monitored by the State Security Department, the State Police, the 109 Professional
Enforcement Joint Command, and the ‚Anti-Socialist Groups‛ (Gerrupa). South Korean
pop-culture is popular among the North Korean youth and is considered dangerous and
threateningly influential by the North Korean government. Information-sharing is not
done by copying content, but by exchange of physical storage devices.
Other devices used in North Korea are Note-tells, mp3s, and mp4s. Note-tells in
particular have been used since 2013, but became illegal soon after. Nevertheless, policy
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changes and crackdowns were not sufficient to stop North Koreans from using them.
Despite the fact that 70% of the population owned a radio by 2000, the usage of radios
has since reduced with the increased use of storage devices. The use of CDs is also
becoming less common. Portable hard drives are being used by North Koreans, but only
the highest elite. The use of storage devices is changing and methods of watching
foreign movies and obtaining information are diversifying.
2.
Usage of IT and how it is Changing North Korean Society
The people interviewed for this research were elite North Korean residents who
were traveling in China. Many were high North Korean cadres that received official
permission to travel to China for trade and business. For this reason, they were able to
give unique insights into North Korea’s economy and society.
The results of this research show the paramount role and influence of the inflow
of Chinese IT into North Korea. Until the 1990s, Japanese electronics brought by ethnic
Koreans from Japan (Sainichi) were considered to be luxurious. However, after China’s
economic reform and the globalization of its IT markets, Chinese products became
abundant. Chinese black and white TVs, DVD players, cell phones, and more are being
imported into North Korea.
Second hand computers from China are entering North Koreans’ homes at a
rapid rate. North Korean students are also learning how use computers. It can be said
that every household with students in school in the biggest cities in North Korea has at
least one computer. Currently, in Pyongyang, about 30% of families own a computer.
Though internet access is restricted, the North Korean intranet is available on a limited
basis. The intranet is used by citizens to obtain information, exchange information
through e-mail, and interact with North Korean media. The North Korean intranet has
great potential for information dissemination, as people are now using it to
communicate and watch other media.
Merchants in North Korea depend on cell phone communication to be aware of
product circulation and underground market movements. It is through cell phones that
North Korean citizens share necessary information about forms of social control and
policies dictated by the North Korean government. 80% of the residents in Pyongyang
are using land-line phones and over 70% are using cell phones. Some citizens
commonly use the expression, ‚You might not be able to eat well, but at least you have
a phone‛. In rural areas and smaller cities, cell phones are also being used. Recently,
North Korea has made 3G internet available in mobile phones, making messaging and
the sharing of media possible.
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While there is a significant difference in IT usage between citizens of Pyongyang
and of other cities, the usage of computers and cell phones is expanding throughout
the country.
The same way IT has played a key role in creating social change worldwide, North
Korea’s IT expansion is creating similar opportunities. New channels of communication
are being created in North Korea. North Koreans are not only consuming South Korean
media on computers and DVD players, they are now sharing it and watching it on cell
phones. They are communicating information and ideas through cell phones. The North
Korean government continues to exert enormous pressure on computer and cell phone
users, but its citizens are using new methods to avoid such surveillance and threats.
Just as Social Networking Systems were crucial in initiating the Arab Spring,
computers and cell phones will also play a key role in disseminating information. Since
online communication can potentially become an outlet for dissent in North Korea, the
North Korean government’s efforts to exert control over IT usage will continue. The
proliferation of IT amongst the North Korean populace is a promising route for
instigating change in North Korea.
Practical ways of exploiting this opportunity need to be developed. At a recent
Hackathon, an idea developed to provide access to television channels through satellite
seems promising. Unfortunately, the use of such large sized satellite devices would
present a security risk to viewers, and the government would surely apply restrictions to
this type of technology. Because IT proliferation provides such a valuable way to
promote freedom in North Korea, more effort should be devoted to cultivating it as a
medium of free expression.
102

NKSC- North Korea Media and IT Infrastructure Report

Transcription

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