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A smartphone smuggled out of North Korea has revealed a deeply dystopian digital reality, where phones act as government spies and language is strictly policed. The phone looks ordinary, but it's anything but.
Combined with a growing app economy and government-run IT centres, North Korea has created a tightly controlled tech ecosystem. With apps approved by the regime and smartphones that track every move, it’s clear that digital freedom in the hermit kingdom is virtually non-existent.
The phone smuggled out of North Korea
The smartphone that made it across the border came to light through an investigation by the BBC. It was smuggled out by Daily NK, a Seoul-based media group, and appeared no different from any regular device—until examined closely.
One of the phone’s most chilling features is its ability to secretly take a screenshot every five minutes. These images are stored in a hidden folder that the user cannot access, suggesting that authorities can remotely retrieve the data.
It also included strict censorship functions. For instance, if a user typed the South Korean slang word 'oppa', the phone auto-corrected it to 'comrade'. The user was then warned that 'oppa' should only be used to refer to an older male sibling.
Even more alarmingly, any attempt to type 'South Korea' resulted in the phrase being replaced with 'puppet state.' According to Martyn Williams from the Stimson Centre:
Smartphones are now part and parcel of the way North Korea tries to indoctrinate people.
This Orwellian technology isn’t new, but it appears to be intensifying. In 2023, using South Korean accents or phrases became a criminal offence. Kang Gyuri, a 24-year-old defector, told the BBC:
I used to think it was normal that the state restricted us so much. I thought other countries lived with this control. But then I realised it was only in North Korea.
Do people in North Korea have access to smartphones?
Despite the tight controls, smartphones are surprisingly widespread in North Korea. According to Radio Free Asia, there are an estimated 6.5 to 7 million active mobile phones in the country, many of which are smartphones.
However, using them comes with serious limitations. All smartphones must have a tracking app that monitors which apps are used, which content is viewed, and what websites are accessed via the country’s internal intranet.
Downloading apps is no simple task either. Citizens must physically go to government-run information technology exchange centres, where apps are installed for a fee. These centres act as gatekeepers, deciding what digital content is permissible.
Entertainment and games cost around 10,000 won (roughly $1.17), while language-learning apps are priced at 15,000 won. Given that a kilogram of rice costs 7,200 won, downloading apps is a luxury many can scarcely afford.
One resident from Tokchon said:
The information technology exchange center installs apps that allow you to watch or listen to the Rodong Sinmun newspaper, movies, songs and other media on your smartphones.
These centres also serve as profitable ventures, with local governments now allowed to keep up to 70% of their earnings from app sales.
North Korea’s own smartphone models
While smartphones in North Korea are sold under local brand names, they are typically assembled from Chinese components. Notable brands include Pyongyang, Arirang, and Blue Sky.
As per Business Insider, one of the earliest known models is the 'Pyongyang Touch', which came in colours like pink, navy blue, and white. Though details are scarce, it was reportedly popular among young people.
The 'Arirang' series is better documented. The original Arirang model is believed to be a rebranded Chinese phone, featuring a 4.3-inch display and an 8-megapixel camera. The Arirang 171, released in 2018, boasts a 4.7-inch screen, a MediaTek6797 chip, 4GB RAM, and a fingerprint sensor.
Another notable device is the 'Jindallae 3' or 'Azalea 3', said to have been developed entirely within North Korea. According to DPRKNews.com:
The study group improved the performance of hand phone battery by reflecting opinions of users who used existing intelligent hand phones.
The 'Phurun Hanul H-1', also known as 'Blue Sky', features a 5.5-inch high-resolution display, fingerprint sensor, and a 6,000mAh battery. It’s equipped with a MediaTek MT6753 chip, 3GB RAM, and a 16-megapixel camera.
Despite these advancements, these phones can’t access the internet. They connect only to North Korea’s closed intranet. Apps must still be downloaded from IT centres, reinforcing the government’s grip on digital content.
Read more:
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Sources used:
BBC: 'Smartphone smuggled out of North Korea reveals the insane things Kim Jong Un does to control his ‘suffocated’ people'
New York Post: 'Smartphone smuggled out of North Korea reveals the insane things Kim Jong Un does to control his ‘suffocated’ people'
Radio Free Asia: 'North Korea opens more app stores for smartphone users'
Business Insider: 'North Korea has its own smartphones that you can't buy anywhere else — check out some of the smartphones North Koreans are using'
