North Koreans turn to underground app for banned information
North Korean authorities caught a university student in Hamhung, South Hamgyong province, this July for using illicit software that opens access to unauthorized foreign electronic materials. Demand for outside information is growing beyond simple entertainment, driven by North Koreans seeking research and technical knowledge unavailable through state channels. The software, known as the…
North Koreans are increasingly turning to an underground app for accessing prohibited foreign information, according to recent reports. This trend was highlighted after a university student in Hamhung, South Hamgyong province, was arrested in mid-July for using the Ryongaksan Program, a software that enables access to unauthorized foreign electronic materials.
The demand for such information is rising, driven by North Koreans seeking research and technical knowledge that is not available through state channels. The Ryongaksan Program, named after a mountain in Pyongyang, has rapidly spread across North Korea. It allows users to search and view external electronic materials even offline, containing a mix of entertainment content and foreign academic papers and technical materials.
The program's popularity is particularly high among university students, graduate students, and technicians who find it difficult to obtain such materials through state-provided resources. The Hamhung city party committee has warned that those who reproduce, sell, or distribute state-unapproved books and electronic materials will face severe legal punishment, considering it an anti-state act.
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