North Korea's Manipulated Smartphones: A Look at State Control and Surveillance
Distinct Features of North Korean Mobile Devices Revealed
Get a peek into North Korea's totalitarian regime through smuggled smartphones, revealing its methods of monitoring and brainwashing its citizens. Let's dive into the peculiarities of these devices and the chilling control they exert.
The Samtaesong 8
The smartphone showcased in the BBC video could be the Samtaesong 8, resembling older Samsung and Huawei smartphones with curved display glass. Running on a modified Android operating system, it mirrors other North Korean smartphones. The name "Samtaesong" is said to represent the three shining stars, symbolizing the founder Kim Il-sung, his wife Kim Jong-suk, and his son Kim Jong-il during the Japanese occupation of Korea [1].
Instructive Auto-Correct and Warnings
The smartphone's autocorrect feature is far from ordinary. Typing "South Korea" presents it as "puppet state," and when you write "Oppa," which means "brother" in Korean but often refers to a boyfriend in the South, the keyboard automatically replaces it with "comrade." The device even shows a warning that "Oppa" should only be used for older siblings, reinforcing state-approved language and behaviors [1].
Sneaky Screenshots and Monitoring
While funny on the surface, the device takes screenshots every five minutes and stores them in a locked folder, making it likely that North Korean authorities can access these images. This feature allows them to monitor users' activities and check if South Korean media is being viewed on the device [1][2].
Fleet Footed Leader, Foreign Devices
However, it is believed that supreme leader Kim Jong-un does not use a North Korean device. A photo from 2023, published by "The Korea Herald," shows Kim at a rocket test with a cutting-edge foldable smartphone on the table, which might be a Samsung Galaxy Flip or a Chinese device [1].
Source: ntv.de, kwe
Darker Depths of Surveillance
North Korea's smartphone system goes beyond mere monitoring. The devices are programmed to censor content and spread propaganda, acting as tools for state control and indoctrination. Furthermore, these smartphones collect and secretly log vast amounts of data, providing the regime with granular insights into citizens' digital lives without consent [1][2].
The Community policy of North Korea's smartphones includes instructing the autocorrect feature to censor terms like "South Korea" and replace others such as "Oppa" with state-approved expressions, showcasing a form of political control beyond simple monitoring. In the realm of general-news, it's worth noting that energy consumption in these devices is likely minimal given their basic functionalities and the focus on state control rather than providing extensive features.
