North Korea releases its own smartphone made by a CHINESE manufacturer that promotes state propaganda sites and blocks access to foreign internet
- The Pyongyang 2425, made in China, only runs government-approved apps
- It is incapable of accessing foreign WiFi or information about the outside world
- Users can connect to state-run ‘Mirae’ WiFi and connect to propaganda sites
- Experts say devices were imported before North Korean software was installed
North Korea has released its own smartphone which only runs government-approved apps and is incapable of connecting to foreign WiFi.
The Pyongyang 2425 handset can only access state-run ‘Mirae’ WiFi, an intranet network, which allows them to use only government-approved apps.
Although the isolated nation has a famously self-reliant philosophy, the gadget’s serial number indicates that it was made in China.
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North Korea The Pyongyang 2425 handset only runs government-approved apps and is incapable of connecting to foreign WiFi. The Kim regime have released a new smartphone incapable of accessing information about the outside world
Like a standard smartphone, the handset is powered by an eight-core processor, can be charged wirelessly and has facial recognition technology.
It is incapable of connecting to foreign WiFi and even blocks users from opening photos and ringtones that come on the phone as standard.
South Korean news service Daily NK, acquired one of the phones and found it was made by a Chinese manufacturer by checking its serial number.
According to experts, the devices were likely imported as a finished product before North Korean software was installed.
‘North Korea could have ordered the production of the phones with the mutual understanding that they would replace the software,’ one expert told Daily NK on condition of anonymity.
‘While changing the software can lead to some problems in functionality, regardless of the type of hardware used, North Korea could have changed the phone’s software after importing it.
Like and ordinary smartphone, the handset is powered by an eight-core processor, can be charged wirelessly and has facial recognition technology. It is incapable of connecting to foreign WiFi and even blocks users from opening photos pre-installed on the phone
South Korean news service Daily NK, acquired one of the phones and found it was made by a Chinese manufacturer by checking its serial number. According to experts, the devices were likely imported as a finished product before North Korean software was installed
Photos of the gadget released by the state show that it has apps for learning Chinese and English and a government-approved encyclopedia and a weather app.
The library app appears to give users access to state-sanctioned reading material.
Because of the lack of internet in the country, North Koreans previously haven’t been able to download apps and have had to go to a stores where technicians install them.
Although it is unclear whether that will change with the Pyongyang 2425.
North Korea has been making smartphones for about five years, with three domestically produced brands available for sale: Arirang, Pyongyang and Jindallae.
The number of users topped 3.8 million in 2017, equal to 15% of the population, according to South Korea’s statistics agency.
While smartphones make life more convenient for many North Koreans, the government in Pyongyang does not allow connections to the outside world.
South Korea’s Unification Ministry said the regime is worried that people can obtain ‘unhealthy’ information that could threaten the Kim Jung Un’s dynasty.
However, some residents living near the Chinese border can access the internet via China’s wireless network, based on reports from North Korean defectors.
But it’s extremely risky as anyone caught listening to ‘enemy’ broadcasts or accessing information from outside the country faces up to five years of hard labour, according to the Unification Ministry.
