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A Glimpse into North Korea's Bleak, State-Run 'Internet'

by Ben Deitz on June 5, 2010 at 03:00 PM

internet in north korea
North Korea is a nation as secretive as it is controlling of its population. The extent of the government's influence even encompasses the populace's access to the Internet, but as with most of the country, it has rarely been glimpsed (though outsiders got a rather disheartening look at a paltry OS made by Dear Leader). A recent BBC News report, however, has shed some light on the dire state of the freedom of information in the country.

BBC News's Sue Lloyd-Roberts was allowed to visit the country last April during the 98th birthday celebrations of the country's founder Kim Il-Sung. In a video excerpt from her travels, Lloyd-Roberts interviews a man about how he accesses the Internet. Asking him what Internet providers he uses, he explains that he connects directly, referring to Kwangmyong, the country's government controlled intranet. The Kwangmyong is used instead of any traditional Internet services, and is a simple means of controlling the population's access to information deemed unacceptable by the government. North Koreans, in fact, have no broadband access whatsoever, and instead rely on the Kwangmyong's built-in email, message group and informational services. In a world in which we can easily take freedom of information for granted, it's shocking to see a country so completely deprived of those freedoms.

While the report will fascinate those in the West who have not realized the extent of North Korea's totalitarian regime, including the strange and blissful naivete of its populace, it will sadly do little to change the lives of those still suffering there. [From: BBC News]

Tags: Internet, isp, kim jong il, Kim Jong-Il, KimJong-il, KimJongIl, Korea, kwangmyong, north korea, NorthKorea, top, totalitarianism

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