North Korea is experiencing a surge in mobile phone use, but phones will fall under the watchful eye of a government anxious to stop the flow of information from the outside world. The number of cell phone users in North Korea has risen to 450,000, up 50 percent from last year, according to South Korean Vice Unification minister Um Jong-Sik, speaking to a forum in Seoul. "This shows the range of people using mobile communications is diversifying after being limited only to the elite," he said.
North Korea, one of the world's poorest countries, strictly controls its citizens' outside access to information and even fixes the tuning controls of radios and televisions to official stations. But items like DVDs and mobile phones smuggled from China have been slipping past barriers, showing that the communist state is not immune to the overall popularity of smartphones.
But while mobile phones have arguably contributed to the greater speed and reach of information overall, playing a key role in the recent uprisings in the Middle East, many do not expect that their rising usage will lead to a greater flow of news and ideas in the politically isolated North Korea.
"After watching the spread of pro-democracy movements in the Middle East, North Korea is expected to strengthen its control further over any elements endangering its system," Um said.
Um also said that the ruling Kim dynasty has responded "sensitively" to news from around the world. The regime is already nervous enough about the availability of unauthorized tech devices in the country, demanding that citizens report all flash drives, MP3 players, cell phones and other tech gear to the government, according to The Korea Herald earlier this month.
In January, the North Korean government also suspended phone rentals to visiting foreigners, which many interpreted as a measure to curtail the spread of news about the Middle East uprisings. Even with smartphones, North Korea's mobile users still face obstacles -- limited service and tight oversight make it hard to receive overseas calls and phones provide limited Internet service.
Source: mobiledia
