Google Goes To North Korea: Why Not?



Evergreen Google Goes To North Korea: Why Not? Is North Korea's growing interest in information technology what really spurred Google Chairman Eric Schmidt to visit North Korea? Gianluca Spezza January 9, 2013 SHARE COPY LINK FACEBOOK X LINKEDIN MASTODON Flickr Creative Commons With Eric Schimdt’s visit to Pyongyang making headlines across the world, many writers have been wondering why Google’s executive chairman would ever want to visit the DPRK. But I believe there are other valid questions to be asked. Why shouldn’t he go? And what could this trip mean for North Koreans? Also, shouldn’t we use this occasion to ask ourselves where the DPRK actually stands in terms of information and communication technology (ICT), and think about what Schmidt might expect to see during his stay? So far there have been few clues as to what is really behind Schmidt’s trip. But from © Korea Risk Group. All rights reserved. No part of this content may be reproduced, distributed, or used for commercial purposes without prior written permission from Korea Risk Group. Get the Daily Update & Podcast Updates Start your day with the North Korea stories that matter most – as selected by Trending

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Google Goes To North Korea: Why Not?

Is North Korea's growing interest in information technology what really spurred Google Chairman Eric Schmidt to visit North Korea?

Gianluca Spezza January 9, 2013

Flickr Creative Commons

With Eric Schimdt’s visit to Pyongyang making headlines across the world, many writers have been wondering why Google’s executive chairman would ever want to visit the DPRK. But I believe there are other valid questions to be asked. Why shouldn’t he go? And what could this trip mean for North Koreans? Also, shouldn’t we use this occasion to ask ourselves where the DPRK actually stands in terms of information and communication technology (ICT), and think about what Schmidt might expect to see during his stay?

So far there have been few clues as to what is really behind Schmidt’s trip. But from

About the Author

Gianluca Spezza

Gianluca Spezza earned his PhD in 2017 from the University of Central Lancashire under the supervision of Professor Hazel Smith, on the strength of research on the cooperation between UNICEF and the DPRK in education and childcare. Dr Spezza is an assistant professor of international relations and a senior researcher at the DPRK Strategy Center at KIMEP University in Almaty, Kazakhstan; he is writing a monograph on education, international cooperation, and human capital in North Korea (Palgrave 2021). His work on the DPRK, articles or interviews, can be found, among others, on the websites of the BBC, The Guardian, The Diplomat, IRIN News, NK News, DR.dk, Newsweek Korea, and El Confidential.

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