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WiFi regulations appear to have been loosened
North Korea appears to have adjusted its restrictive WiFi regulations that blocked smartphones from connecting to anything but approved networks. For many years, North Korean smartphones have shipped with the ability to connect to Wi-Fi networks, but the Wi-Fi settings menu locked out. This means it’s impossible for users to scan for networks or join…
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The Big Expansion of North Korea’s Cellular Sector
North Korea’s smartphone and cellphone market has expanded significantly in the last few years and at least 24 domestic brands now compete for market share. That’s an impressive number considering the population of around 26 million and a consumer goods sector that is not particularly commercial. The proliferation of brands, which began around 2023, points…
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A Look at North Korean Cellular Charges
How much does it cost to buy a smartphone and data package in North Korea? Concrete numbers for the former are difficult to come by, but I’ve managed to find a couple of sources that suggest phone prices are not too far removed from those found in Western economies. Data packages too are not too…
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North Korean Cellular Coverage in 2026
North Korea’s cellular network has continued to grow, with 4G now available in major cities and coverage expanding into regions that previously had no mobile service.
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Libraries with no books
North Korea’s new county libraries, built under the 20×10 initiative, are going digital-first — replacing book shelves with electronic reading terminals and e-book systems.
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Three Things To Read from November 2025
This month covers the fallout from foreign radio shutdowns, how North Korea’s internet connections work, and the possible arrival of spam text messages in the DPRK.
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North Korea’s first multi-channel IPTV service apparently launched
Manbang has launched North Korea’s first multi-channel IPTV service, offering 20 channels of live television across the country’s internal data network.
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Three things to read, from August 2025
This month’s NK TechLab reading list covers North Korea’s replacement of Chinese computers at government offices and intensifying crackdowns on information leakage.
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New Satellite Could Provide Internet Access to North Korea…Someday
A new type of low-orbit satellite capable of connecting directly to smartphones could someday give North Koreans access to the uncensored internet.
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Twenty Years of Mobile Communications in North Korea
Twenty years after the first cellular calls in North Korea, mobile phones have become a cornerstone of daily life and the country’s informal private economy.
