In an eye-opening glimpse into the extreme control wielded by North Korea’s regime, a smartphone smuggled out of the country reveals just how far Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un is going to restrict foreign influence—especially from South Korea. According to the BBC, people in North Korea can be sent to prison or even executed for watching South Korean media. In 2023, Kim banned South Korean phrases and accents, further controlling the way people express themselves culturally.
The phone that was taken from a protester demonstrates the regime’s Orwellian style: it censors language as soon as it is used. If someone tries to type “oppa” in South Korean, the software will automatically change it to “comrade.” A message appears telling you that the word is meant for siblings only. The name “South Korea” is changed to “puppet state” by the North, a term used in their propaganda.
However, the monitoring continues in other ways as well. The device captures a screenshot every five minutes and sends it to the government, so the user cannot access those files. The fact that the regime is always watching highlights how hard it works to stop any opposition or outside influence.
“Smartphones are now an important tool in North Korea’s efforts to brainwash its people,” said Martyn Williams to the BBC. He believes the system is working: the regime is now gaining control over information coming from outside.
The use of censorship, surveillance, and propaganda in North Korea demonstrates that technology is used to control people, not to help them. While smartphones often stand for freedom and connection in other places, in North Korea, they are used by the government to ensure loyalty to the regime.
