In recent days the operation of a North Korean mobile phone which has surprised by the level of surveillance to which its users are subjected. Thanks to an investigation by the BBC and the analysis carried out after smuggling a smartphone from North Korea, some of the control mechanisms present in these devices have been revealed.
The terminal, at first glance similar to models from Chinese manufacturers such as Huawei o Honor, hides beneath its appearance a deeply modified operating system. There is no access to the global Internet; instead, citizens can use a national intranet, Kwangmyong, which only gives access to a few websites previously approved by the Government. Services and applications are monitored and all content goes through a strict state filter.
Automatic screenshots every five minutes
One of the most striking aspects that has come to light is that The phone automatically takes screenshots every five minutes. These images are saved in a folder that remains hidden from the user, but it is available to authorities. If an inspector needs to review the phone, they can directly access that visual history, checking in detail how the device has been used.
As a complement to this surveillance system, Captures can be sent randomly to the Government central for more comprehensive analysis. With this system, authorities can remotely and continuously monitor citizens' digital activity, detecting possible suspicious or anti-regime behavior.
Language control and personalized censorship
Control does not stop at visual surveillance alone. The phone's software incorporates an instant censorship system by detecting words or expressions considered unpatriotic or associated with South Korean culture. For example, if the user types “oppa" —the South Korean term for "older brother" or "boyfriend"—this word is immediately corrected to become "comrade”, aligning itself with the official North Korean discourse.
If you type "South Korea," the phrase is automatically replaced with "puppet state," reinforcing the government's propaganda rhetoric. The system may even display warnings or notifications explaining what the accepted terminology should be according to the Kim Jong-un regime.
A phone that looks ordinary, but it's all surveillance
Although the device could pass for a conventional smartphone on the outside, every aspect of its operation is focused on restricting access to external information and monitor any possible attempt at dissent. user has no control over screenshots or access to hidden folders, which reinforces the climate of fear and submission: it becomes evident that Everything you see and write on your mobile phone can be monitored at any time..
To reinforce the presence of the State, when turning on the terminal, instead of the brand animation, the North Korean flag waving, a symbol of the digital indoctrination that occurs from the first second of use.
This digital surveillance system is just another reflection of the isolation and technological repression affecting the North Korean population. From censorship of words to the inability to erase graphic evidence, the phone serves as a constant reminder that the Personal privacy is completely subject to government control.
