A Glimpse into North Korea’s Surveillance State: Insights from a Smuggled Smartphone

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A Window into North Korea’s Digital Surveillance

Recent revelations from a smartphone smuggled out of North Korea have highlighted the extensive measures the state employs to control its citizens’ digital experiences. This device, laden with restrictions and surveillance tools, epitomizes the authoritarian grip of the North Korean regime.

A video showcasing the smartphone, shared by the BBC and initially obtained by the Seoul-based Daily NK, offers a rare insight into the technological constraints faced by North Koreans under Kim Jong Un’s rule. Upon activation, users are greeted with the North Korean flag, symbolizing the state’s pervasive influence.

Unveiling the Smartphone’s Intricacies

The smartphone incorporates a unique system that automatically censors specific vocabulary. Notably, the Korean term “oppo,” meaning “big brother,” is systematically replaced with “comrade,” accompanied by a user warning. While this term is affectionately used by young women in South Korea to refer to their boyfriends, such colloquialism is suppressed in the North.

Moreover, the mere attempt to type “South Korea” triggers an automatic correction to “puppet state,” reflecting the regime’s derogatory stance towards its southern neighbor.

Surveillance: A Constant Reality

The North Korean government meticulously monitors these devices. The phone discreetly captures screenshots every five minutes, storing them in an encrypted folder inaccessible to users. These images serve as tools for the regime to scrutinize the everyday activities of its citizens.