1 year ago
North Korea's Smartphone Surveillance and Information War
North Korea is using specially modified smartphones to control what its citizens see and do.
These phones automatically censor South Korean words and take screenshots to monitor users.
While the government uses this technology to control information, some people are fighting back by hacking the phones to access banned content.
The phones themselves are also a business, violating international rules and making money for the government.
This shows how technology can be used by governments to control their citizens, and how some people are trying to resist.
North Korea uses smartphones to monitor citizens and censor South Korean content.
Smartphones auto-correct South Korean slang and replace terms like "South Korea" with propaganda.
The phones secretly take screenshots every five minutes to monitor user activity.
North Korean hackers are jailbreaking phones to access forbidden content, sparking regime concern.
The smartphone industry violates international sanctions, generating revenue for the regime.
- Who
- The North Korean government and its citizens.
- What
- North Korea is using modified smartphones to surveil its citizens, censor information, and generate revenue.
- Where
- North Korea
- When
- The system is currently in operation.
- Why
- To control information, monitor citizens, and generate revenue while violating sanctions.
North Korean Government
North Korean Hackers
Information Control
North Korean Government
The North Korean government seeks to control all information accessed by its citizens.
North Korean Hackers
A small group of North Korean hackers are attempting to bypass government censorship.
Key facts
- Estimated Smartphone Owners
- 6 million North Koreans
- Smartphone Cost
- $100-$400 USD
- Average Monthly Earnings
- $100 USD
- Key Components
- Taiwanese semiconductors, Chinese batteries, modified Android OS
- Manufacturing
- Chinese companies like Gionee




