If You Use "South Korean Language," Your Phone Camera Clicks... North Korean Smartphones Packed with Surveillance Features

Screen captured every 5 minutes, language correction program for "puppet region" dialect
North Korean version of Netflix exists... "A tool for brainwashing residents"

Since the late 2010s, North Korea has been selling smartphones, and it has been revealed that North Korean smartphones are equipped with unique features such as capturing the user’s screen every few minutes and directing users to video sites filled with propaganda. It remains unclear whether North Korean smartphones are manufactured using components sourced from China and other countries, or if they are simply rebranded Chinese-made finished products.

The New York Post recently reported that a close analysis of North Korean smartphones smuggled abroad from North Korea revealed the presence of extensive surveillance programs unimaginable in ordinary mobile phones. The smartphone in question was reportedly obtained late last year via the North Korea-focused media outlet Daily NK. According to United Nations estimates for 2023, approximately 7 million mobile phones are believed to be in circulation in North Korea.

North Korea also sells smartphones. The photo shows North Korea's smartphone "Samtaeseong 8," released this year. Photo by Yonhap News

Screen captured every 5 minutes, language correction program for 'puppet region' dialect

The main feature of North Korean smartphones is a program that captures the screen every five minutes. The saved images are moved to a folder installed on the smartphone, which cannot be accessed by the user. It is believed that only the authorities can access this folder. This measure appears to be intended to monitor users’ smartphone and internet usage history.

North Korean smartphone that instantly replaces the word 'South Korea' with 'puppet region'. BBC video capture

Another unique feature is the 'text correction' function. When users type Korean text in documents or messenger apps on the phone, it is immediately corrected to the North Korean standard language. For example, terms like "oppa" or "nuna" are changed to "dongmu," and "South Korea" is converted to "puppet region."

This feature was first reported by the BBC, the British public broadcaster, in 2023. According to the report, at that time, North Korean authorities developed the 'puppet dialect removal program' to comply with the 'Pyongyang Standard Language Protection Law' and ordered that this program be installed on all smartphones and computers.

North Korean version of Netflix exists... "A tool for brainwashing residents"

North Korean smartphone applications do not serve surveillance purposes alone. It is reported that North Korean residents also use video streaming and social networking services (SNS). North Korea has a closed intranet called 'Kwangmyong,' which is accessible only within the country, and all North Korean apps are believed to be accessible only to Kwangmyong users.

The North Korean version of Netflix 'Mokran' app as filmed by popular Polish YouTuber 'Ozytek'. YouTube capture

In March, Ozytek (ojwojtek), a popular YouTuber from Poland, was introduced to some North Korean smartphone apps by a tour guide during a five-day, four-night trip to North Korea. The most notable app is a video streaming site called 'Mokran,' which is referred to among foreign internet users as the "North Korean version of Netflix." However, unlike Netflix, the content available on Mokran consists almost entirely of propaganda videos, movies, cartoons, and North Korean folk songs.

The tour guide also revealed the existence of a "North Korean dating app" comparable to online dating apps like Tinder and Bumble. However, it is reported that only a very small number of users actually use this app.

Martin Williams, a researcher at the Washington D.C.-based nonprofit human rights organization Stimson Center, told the BBC, "There are so many false elements in the myths surrounding the Kim family that the authorities want to control them," adding, "This shows that smartphones in North Korea have now become an essential tool for brainwashing residents."