A closed country, living under repression and the cult of its leader Kim Jong-un, North Korea is undoubtedly not a country of digital leisure. Yet, the essential smartphone exists even there. As proof, a model clandestinely released by a South Korean media called NK.
The BBC was able to take a look at the device, allowing us to learn more about communication in this country where everything seems forbidden. For starters, the model without a known brand is made from components imported from China and Taiwan, and runs on Android.
How North Korea spies on its people££££
Then, the most glaring detail is the auto-correction of the texts, the "forbidden" words being replaced by terms authorized by the dictatorship. For example, "South Korea" becomes "puppet state", and the word "oppa" ("boyfriend" in South Korean slang) transforms into "comrade". Some of these fixes even come with a warning, just to remind the user of their allegiance. Another peculiarity noted by the BBC is that the smartphone takes screenshots every five minutes without the user's knowledge, which are stored in a hidden folder. No doubt the government doesn't hesitate to access them to learn more about the activities of its "citizens." There you go, otherwise, have a good day.
