When 'Kim Jong-un', 'Republic of Korea' and 'boyfriend' were typed on a North Korean smartphone, an autocorrect function showed the results were 'Great Leader', 'South: hostile nation' and 'comrade'. Typing 'Kim Jong-un' on the device autocorrected to 'Great Leader'. When 'Republic of Korea' was typed, autocorrect suggested 'South: hostile nation'. Typing 'boyfriend' autocorrected to 'comrade'. The experiments were conducted by a source who possesses a smartphone used in North Korea. The source said that when searching for terms on a North Korean smartphone, users are often redirected to a propaganda site operated by the North Korean government. The smartphone in question was provided by the 'Kwangmyong' network, which is run by the North Korean government. Kwangmyong provides internet services to residents of North Korea. The findings suggest that North Korean authorities are making efforts to control the flow of information through smartphones. The smartphone user said that when searching for information on the device, they often could not find what they were looking for. The user said that although smartphones have become popular in North Korea, they do not provide the same level of internet freedom as in other countries. The North Korean government is known to operate a 'national intranet', which provides limited internet services to residents. The findings highlight the strict controls on information flow in North Korea. The experiment also showed that typing 'United States' on the smartphone autocorrected to 'imperialist aggressor'. Typing 'Japan' autocorrected to 'Japanese imperialist aggressor'. The source said that North Korean authorities are using technology to control what information residents can access. The findings suggest that North Korean authorities are using autocorrect functions and search results to shape public opinion. The experiment was conducted to understand the level of internet freedom in North Korea. The findings provide insight into the strict controls on information flow in the country. The North Korean government's control of information flow has significant implications for residents' access to information. The experiment highlights the challenges of accessing information in North Korea. The findings have significant implications for understanding the level of internet freedom in North Korea. The North Korean government's efforts to control information flow through smartphones are part of a broader strategy to control the flow of information. The experiment provides insight into the ways in which North Korean authorities are using technology to control information flow. The findings have significant implications for understanding the role of technology in shaping public opinion in North Korea. The North Korean government's control of information flow has significant implications for residents' access to information and their understanding of the world. The experiment highlights the importance of understanding the level of internet freedom in North Korea. The findings provide insight into the challenges of accessing information in the country. The North Korean government's efforts to control information flow through smartphones are significant. The experiment provides insight into the ways in which North Korean authorities are using technology to shape public opinion. The findings have significant implications for understanding the level of internet freedom in North Korea and the challenges of accessing information in the country.
A recent analysis of a North Korean smartphone named "해양 701" by the Wall Street Journal reveals several restricted features. Despite offering various functionalities like payment, money transfer, and app usage, the device is heavily restricted in its range of use. The video showed that the phone could only access North Korea's internal intranet, with no external internet connectivity.
Notably, when typing the phrase "대한민국" (South Korea), the device automatically converted it to "(금지어)" (restricted word). Similarly, entering "김정은" (Kim Jong-un) made the name appear in bold font. The word "남친" (boyfriend) would change to "남자친구" (boyfriend). The smartphone also records the user's activity, including the applications used and the screens viewed, making it challenging to disable or delete the recorded data.
While the device costs around $250 on the black market, the exact number of users remains unclear as North Korea does not officially disclose this information.
Written by urgent.news from Hankyoreh's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
