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North Korea’s newest smartphone might be made in China
Update: The Chinese electronics company identified in this report has subsequently confirmed they are producing this on behalf of Phurunhanul Electronics. North Korea’s Phurunhanul Electronics (푸른하늘), one of the country’s leading consumer electronics brand, has launched a new smartphone, the Phurunhanul H1. The phone was apparently developed by the company after examining existing phones on the domestic…
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KCTV airing multi-part Chinese drama series
Korean Central Television is currently airing a 36-part drama series from Chinese state television in a departure from recent programming that has been almost exclusively domestic. The CCTV drama called “Mao Anying” (“모안영” “毛岸英”) covers the life of Mao Anying, the eldest son of Mao Zedong, and began airing in primetime on May 10. That was…
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North Korea’s anti-virus software contains Trend Micro code, say researchers
SiliVaccine, a North Korean anti-virus application for Windows, includes elements of code lifted from an anti-virus engine produced by Japan’s Trend Micro, according to a detailed analysis of the software by researchers at computer security company Check Point. The software also deliberately fails to alert the user if a specific piece of malware is detected and…
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How North Korean media covered the Inter-Korean summit
Many amazing sights unfolded at last week’s Inter-Korean Summit in Panmunjon, but one that struck me was the North and South Korean journalists that were running back and forth across the military demarcation line without hinderance. At any other time that kind of thing would be impossible, but journalists from both countries were given unprecedented…
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Could cross-border propaganda radio fall silent with summit agreement?
Among the agreements reached by North and South Korea on Friday is one that could have a quick effect on propaganda radio broadcasts on the Korean peninsula. The two countries agreed: South and North Korea agreed to completely cease all hostile acts against each other in every domain, including land, air and sea, that are…
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NGOs suggest mutual broadcasting of North, South TV
Prominent non-governmental organizations have sent South Korean President Moon Jae-in a joint letter ahead of his upcoming summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un containing proposals for issues that should be addressed. Most cover human rights, humanitarian aid and inter-Korean relations but one in particular caught my eye: Agree on mutual free and uncensored…
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Mischief with Our Nation website
A typo in a North Korean website has allowed an Internet user to serve up anti-regime messages. The mistake is made on Our Nation School, a China-based website that teaches juche philosophy and appears to be run by the same group behind the Uriminzokkiri site. In the top corner of the site are a series…
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Kim Jong Un tries out virtual reality
Kim Jong Un experienced a virtual reality demonstration as part of his recent visit to Beijing. In a photo issued by North Korea’s state media, the leader and his wife are seen each seated with VR headsets on. No other information about the demonstration was offered, but it appears to be a simulation of a…
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More on SiliVaccine, North Korea’s anti-virus scanner
Several years ago I obtained a copy of SiliVaccine, an anti-virus scanner developed in North Korea. Recently I’ve been working with Mark Lechtik at Check Point Software who has done a deep technical analysis of the application. There are some interesting findings and we’ll be providing more details on those in the coming weeks. Mark…
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Multi-channel TV reportedly expanding in North Korea
The Daily NK has a story today about what might be the expansion of cable TV in North Korea. The story says North Korean authorities have begun charging for access to Mansudae Television (만수대텔레비죤) outside of Pyongyang. Mansudae TV launched in December 1973 as North Korea’s third TV station and is on the air on…
