Stealthy Surveillance: North Korea's Custom Smartphone Insights
North Korean mobile devices boast unique features
Let's take an intriguing glimpse into North Korea's internal affairs, as the British broadcaster BBC unearths the mystery surrounding a smuggled smartphone from the secretive state. This device gives us a shivering glimpse of the extent to which North Korea monitors and manipulates its population, using these devices as a spying tool.
The Samtaesong 8: A Blend of Antiquity and Modernity?
The smartphone unveiled in the BBC video could be a modified version of the Samtaesong 8, bearing a resemblance to older Samsung and Huawei devices, sporting curved display glass on the sides and presumably running a bespoke Android operating system tailored for North Korean needs.
Fun Fact: The word "Samtaesong" reportedly holds significance in North Korea, symbolizing the "three shining stars," commemorating the alleged heroic resistance of state founder Kim Il-sung, his wife Kim Jong-suk, and his son Kim Jong-il during Japanese occupation, according to The Korea Herald.
A Manipulative Keyboard
The realinteresting bit is how the smartphone functions. The keyboard boasts a peculiar auto-correct feature. For instance, typing "South Korea" alters it to "puppet state," reflecting the North Korean government's opinion of its neighbor. Similarly, typing "Oppa" – a term used for a boyfriend in South Korea – is automatically replaced with "comrade" and displays a warning about using the term inappropriately, suggesting that the device is programmed to enforce North Korean beliefs and values.
Eyes Everywhere: Screenshots on Repeat
While you might find the automatic auto-correct somewhat amusing, things take a distinctly Orwellian twist with the smartphone's screenshot feature. Every five minutes, the smartphone takes a screenshot, snapping images which are stored in a hidden folder, implying that the North Korean authorities might have access to these captures.
These screenshots not only grant authorities access to media viewed on the device but also allow them to determine if South Korean media is being consumed via microSD cards that activists smuggle across the border, according to the BBC. North Korean smartphones reportedly do not have internet access, and can only connect to the state intranet via a SIM card, according to The Korea Herald.
Kim's Different Screen
Rule Kim Jong-un likely eschews a North Korean smartphone. A 2023 photo published by the Korea Herald depicts Kim at a rocket test, with a modern foldable smartphone, possibly a Samsung Galaxy Flip or a Chinese device, resting on a table before him.
For a country with such strict border controls, North Korea remarkably possesses a flourishing black market, enabling citizens and diplomats alike to smuggle in various electronics, offering glimpses into the lives led by North Koreans and providing insights into the surveillance State's secret measures.
- The community policy in North Korea might regulate the usage of gadgets like smartphones, given their potential role in disseminating information and enforcing conformity to the government's ideology, as seen with the auto-correct feature on the Samtaesong 8.
- The energy consumption of North Korean technology, such as the modified Samtaesong 8 smartphone, could be a concern, as the state faces a shortage of resources and relies heavily on its own infrastructure for electricity production.
- The general-news landscape is rich with stories about the interplay of politics, technology, and surveillance in North Korea, with the recent revelations about their custom smartphones being a classic example of this complex relationship.
