The North Korean smartphone, a rare glimpse into the country's digital secrets, offers a fascinating insight into the regime's control over its citizens. This $250 device, smuggled out of the country, reveals a carefully curated digital environment, one that is both a tool for surveillance and a means to restrict access to foreign influences.
The smartphone, a Hyang 701, is a mid-tier Android device with a locked Wi-Fi feature and a state-run intranet. It comes preloaded with a variety of apps, including a game that resembles an NBC logo and a financial app similar to China's Alipay. The app allows users to send and receive money in local currency or USD and even call a taxi directly from the app. However, the United States and South Korea are notably absent from the country list, indicating a deliberate effort to limit access to foreign content.
The phone's search function is heavily restricted. Typing 'Kim Jong Un' results in bold letters, while the South Korean word for 'South' triggers a warning and a 'banned' message. Even the South Korean slang for 'boyfriend' is autocorrected to 'male buddy', showcasing the regime's efforts to prevent foreign culture from taking root. These restrictions are not just about censorship; they are a means to control the information that citizens have access to.
The phone also includes a 'watch history' folder that automatically captures screenshots of the user's activities, even if the user tries to uninstall the files or the software itself. This folder is a powerful tool for the state, allowing officials to monitor and evaluate the pages visited by citizens. The random nature of the screenshots adds an element of paranoia, as users never know when their activities might be under scrutiny.
The cost of the smartphone is a significant barrier, with only the richest 10 percent of the population able to afford it. This exclusivity further emphasizes the regime's control over the digital sphere, as it limits access to technology to those who can afford it. The smartphone is not just a device; it is a tool for maintaining power and control over the citizens of North Korea.
In conclusion, the North Korean smartphone is a window into a world of strict control and surveillance. It highlights the regime's efforts to shape its citizens' digital environment, restrict foreign influences, and maintain power. The device is a powerful symbol of the challenges faced by North Koreans in their daily lives, where even personal technology is subject to the state's watchful eye.
