How does the North Korean IT sector work?

North Korea is known for its totalitarian regime and strict control over the lives of citizens. This policy, of course, also applies to the high technology sector. Thus, all computers must be registered with government agencies, as if they were dangerous weapons, and for buying a pirated disc with a foreign film you can end up in a labor camp or even lose your life. But even in such harsh conditions, the DPRK’s IT sector continues to develop. We'll tell you how it works and whether residents of the country manage to bypass the established restrictions.

Technologies behind the Iron Curtain

North Korea is recognized as one of the most closed and poorest countries in the world. Totalitarianism reigns here, there is no freedom of speech and action. For example, local residents are prohibited from freely crossing the border and maintaining contact with relatives living abroad. The UN and many other international organizations believe that the situation with violations of the rights of citizens of the DPRK is unprecedented and is hampering economic development, but, despite open condemnation, various organizations are providing humanitarian assistance to the country.

In 1987, thanks to the UN program to support underdeveloped countries, a line for the production of integrated circuits was launched at the Institute of Electronic Technology of North Korea. Two years later, a plant producing microchips was built, and in the 90s, the DPRK began exporting electronic computers. At the same time, the economic situation in the country remained difficult: in terms of GDP, North Korea lagged behind South Korea by 8-10 times.

The development of China's IT industry accelerated when Kim Jong-un took over as permanent leader. He was convinced that the computer industry was a kind of superweapon that could save the country's economy. At the same time, the IT sector had to comply with the state ideology of Juche – it consisted of originality and reliance solely on one’s own strengths, without exchanging experience with other countries. Due to its strict adherence to this ideology, North Korea is often called the “Hermit Kingdom.”

The digitalization of the PRC began with production – CNC machines were equipped with computers that increase the efficiency of their management. In addition, scientists, researchers, military men and other people who worked for the benefit of the state received access to technology. At the same time, the government was in no hurry to provide computers to ordinary citizens – the Internet, in their opinion, could lead to irreparable consequences, including the loss of cultural identity and a weakening sense of patriotism.

A compromise was found in 2000, when the National Computer Network “Gwangmyeon,” which translated means “Bright Star,” appeared in North Korea. It provided access to a limited list of sites and limited the downloading of information from external sources. Gwangmyeon users have about 5 thousand web resources at their disposal, while there are more than 198 million of them on the World Wide Web. These are not full-fledged Internet sites, but copies of them that have been censored and cleared of “superfluous things.”

Only visitors to special computer clubs located in large cities could get into Gwangmyeon. Considering that in the DPRK it is necessary to obtain permission even to travel within the country, the new technology was inaccessible to most residents of the provinces. Those who managed to get online had to control their every action – an inappropriate comment or an attempt to learn more than they should, could attract the attention of the authorities.

Computers and smartphones with an “all-seeing eye”

Nowadays, about 20% of Chinese residents have personal computers running on the only operating system permitted in the country – Pulgynbyol (Red Star). It is regularly updated, and now its interface resembles MaC OS. A distinctive feature of Red Star is that it blocks files that do not have an electronic label “approved by the government” and sends screenshots of users’ screens to the security service. Nothing can be hidden from her: neither personal correspondence, nor a question addressed to a search engine.

Most North Koreans own primitive smartphones, but only from local brands. Some of the most popular are “Pyongyang Touch”, “Arirang”, “Azalea”, Blue Sky. Representatives of the local elite have foreign smartphones (as well as other forbidden goods from abroad). As a rule, the equipment of ordinary citizens is purchased from China and modified, equipped with special spy programs. All mobile devices, like computers, “monitor” their owners, open only censored files and stop attempts to call abroad. There are only two cellular operators available in the country – Koryolink and Byol, and both are ready to provide call recordings at the first request of the government. According to the research organization Amnesty International, residents of areas located near the border with China often use imported SIM cards and mobile phones to contact relatives, but this is quite risky and risks arrest.

All smartphones and computers must be registered with the state security system, and the storage and use of equipment purchased abroad is strictly prohibited. Compliance with this requirement is monitored by the “Permanent Group 109” – it regularly conducts raids and, at the slightest suspicion, arranges an inspection of the devices found.

Internet as a privilege

While the bulk of the Chinese population has to be content with web resources approved by the government, some organizations, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, party leaders, scientific communities and foreign missions still have access to the World Wide Web. Those who plan to use the Internet will have to obtain special permission, and also place their work computer in a guarded room, accessible only to holders of special passes.

For an ordinary resident of China, obtaining temporary access to the Internet is a complex and lengthy process. You need to collect documents, submit an application and wait for a response. Moreover, when you go online, a specially trained person will sit next to you and you need to tell them about all your actions. The attendant must protect the inexperienced user from visiting illegal resources, and, as a result, from criminal prosecution.

Members of the government, as well as their associates, can use the global network. At the same time, there are legends about North Korean hackers launching attacks on foreign resources. Stories from the same series about programmers from the DPRK who get remote work using false documents for Western companies. In this way, the North Korean government allegedly receives both the secrets of its enemies and the currency that is so valuable under sanctions.

Prohibited content

Despite regular checks, some North Koreans continue to take risks by purchasing flash drives with foreign content (South Korean dramas are especially popular). They are smuggled from other countries, mainly from China. Such storage media are protected by a password; if you enter it incorrectly, the files are automatically deleted. Some flash drives are formatted immediately after their contents are viewed – this precaution protects against accusations of distributing “prohibited” content.

Not all violators manage to escape punishment. Most trials remain within the country's borders, but some become known throughout the world, mainly through defectors. Thus, in 2022, a North Korean court sentenced two sixteen-year-old teenagers to 12 years in prison for watching South Korean dramas.

The most severe punishment for consuming illegal content is the death penalty. This sentence is handed down to those who are addicted to watching videos criticizing the current government or containing pornography. On the black market, the cost of discs with similar content reaches $500. By the way, there is also strict punishment for storing foreign currency.

But why do people continue to search for prohibited content even at the cost of their own lives? One of the refugees answered this question this way: “For us, this is a breath of freedom, allowing us, at least for a moment, to leave the terrible reality of North Korea and immerse ourselves in dreams.”

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