Mobile Phones in North Korea: Understanding The Boom

Mobile phones in North Korea aren't just for the 'elites'. From business people to family homes in the provinces, more and more people are slowly gaining access to cellular communication.
November 16th, 2012
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Imagine making a call to a friend in downtown Pyongyang from just across the border in Seoul. That reality might be a way off yet, but if things did mellow between the two nations, at least they’d both be up to speed when it comes to the latest phone technology to aid their communication. Not

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About the Author

Chad O'Carroll

Chad O'Carroll has written on North Korea since 2010 and writes between London and Seoul.

Join the discussion

  • http://twitter.com/SinoNK_RC 盖罗杰 강로저

    Tad – thanks for keeping the conversation going and broaching the subject as well as taking a deeper dive. The issue is it is sometimes difficult to capture nuances in 750 words or less – but sparking discussion and continuing the debate as your commentary here does, is a great way to get these issues into public consciousness.

    In that spirit, there are several other (recent) articles that do illuminate some of the nuances. Two were inked by people who have spent considerable time on the ground in North Korea and dealing with North Koreans. One was educated in North Korea.

    All of these articles are 4,000 words or more or a lot; more meaning there is appropriate room to describe and illuminate nuances using various angles and are broadly consistent with your article and the one in the Diplomat.

    This Korea Economic Institute publication did an excellent job of translating various nuances into policy recommendations:
    http://www.keia.org/sites/default/files/publications/emergingvoices_final_peternesbitt.pdf
    Here are some of the nuances of cyber-circumventing, cyber-engaging, and cyber cultivating DPRK digiterati from folks who have led delegations into DPRK and engaged DPRK officials directly on numerous topics:
    http://nautilus.org/napsnet/napsnet-policy-forum/north-koreas-digital-transformation-implications-for-north-korea-policy/

    And of course, there are other social, technical and practical nuances captured in this document by someone who speaks Korean and attended university in Pyongyang: http://nautilus.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/DPRK_Digital_Transformation.pdf
    Love NKNews dedication to keeping the debate going

    • Alex

      These links are great! Thanks for sharing!

    • http://twitter.com/nknewsorg NK NEWS

      Thanks Roger! glad you enjoy talking about these issues.

      Thanks for the very helpful links, too.