Japan Today on 29th September published an article saying that North Korea is evading UN sanctions to cash in on soaring domestic demand for smartphones, using low-cost hardware imports to generate significant income for the regime, according to defectors, experts and an analysis of North Korean-made phones. It says that economists estimate as many as 6 million North Koreans – a quarter of the population – now have mobile phones. The phones feature Taiwanese semiconductors, batteries made in China and a version of Google’s open-source Android operating system, analysis of the North Korean phones revealed. North Korean phones can only be used to call domestic numbers and have some unique security features, e.g. downloading or transferring files is severely restricted.
This blog is primarily for my own use, to keep informed and up to date. However, if you would like to say thank you (and perhaps help me get a new, better laptop when I am away…) you can “buy me a coffee” at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/KoIvM842y
