North Korean workers in Kyongwon county are being forced to fund upgrades to poorly run “technology distribution offices” after a recent party inspection found them lacking. Local organizations are scrambling to modernize these offices, shifting the financial burden onto their already disgruntled members. Speaking anonymously, a North Hamgyong province source told Daily NK recently that ..read more

As North Korea conducts a sweeping inspection of its e-payment system, the Pyongyang Information Technology Bureau has been leading inspections of computer networks and equipment replacements at base stations nationwide, Daily NK has learned. Speaking anonymously, a Daily NK source in North Korea said recently that for the first month of the inspection, the authorities ..read more

North Korean authorities have taken a number of measures to increase the use of debit cards and promote electronic payments and shopping since the implementation of the 20×10 regional development policy. But North Koreans still find the cards inconvenient because they can only be used at state-run stores and because cash deposits and withdrawals are time-consuming. The Jonsong Card: Widespread but underutilized Multiple sources in North Korea told Daily NK on July 19 that just about every North Korean adult now has at least one “Jonsong Card.” The Jonsong Card, first issued by the central bank ..read more

Chongjin authorities recently held a lecture on adopting digitalization and information technology to develop the civilian economy. Speaking on condition of anonymity, a Daily NK source in North Hamgyong Province said Wednesday that “a lecture for local factory, enterprise and group managers was held in Chongjin on July 6.” The lecture was held by the head secretary of the city’s party committee. The lecture followed the issuing of central committee guidance material on “enlisting and increasing scientific and technological abilities,” a task mentioned by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un during ..read more

North Korea is pushing to strengthen its mobile network security system by the second half of this year. The country aims to introduce domestic technology and upgrade its mobile network security to international standards by increasing investment in cloud systems and quantum encryption technology. Speaking on condition of anonymity, a Daily NK source in North Korea reported Monday that “a conference of information and communication experts was held in Pyongyang from June 20-22 to discuss upgrading the national mobile communication network to a world-class level. Following the conference, the I ..read more

Electronic payment services such as offline payments using QR codes are becoming increasingly popular among young North Koreans in major cities, Daily NK has learned. Speaking on condition of anonymity, a source in North Korea told Daily NK on Tuesday that “many people are using a smartphone payment application made by Samhung IT Exchange Center,” usually “residents of Pyongyang, provincial capitals and other big cities who use smartphones.” Samhung IT Exchange Center is one of North Korea’s few software developers. It develops multiple products under government contract. North Korean media re ..read more

The latest smartphones in North Korea cost hundreds of dollars, with some models costing nearly USD 1,000. While such prices are a significant burden on North Koreans, the phones are still popular. “The Chongsong 234, Chongsong 222 and Samtaesong 8 are the most popular smartphones these days,” a source in Yanggang Province told Daily NK on Wednesday, speaking on condition of anonymity. “They are popular because they are the latest models.” North Korea unveiled the new Chongsong 234 and 222 at the Light Industry Development-2023 trade show last October. The Samtaesong first appeared on Korea Ce ..read more

Public demand for telephone services in North Korea has surged recently, prompting the North Pyongan Province Post and Telecommunications Bureau to bring forward its annual revenue targets, Daily NK has learned. “Smuggling and travel have increased in the border areas following the gradual easing of border restrictions since last year. With more goods in transit and a corresponding increase in demand for telecommunications, the provincial Post and Telecommunications Bureau is moving to meet its annual revenue targets in the first quarter of the year,” a source in the province told Daily NK on ..read more

North Korea remains unconnected to the digital world.  The latest Digital 2024 Global Reports showed that only fewer than 1,000 people in North Korea have access to the Internet. This small group of people is likely composed of foreign expatriates and those coming from North Korea’s political elite. The report also showed that there are currently 7.51 million mobile connections in North Korea or 28.7% of its total population. This reflects a 2.8% increase or around 260,000 new mobile connections from the start of 2023 until January 2024. Although the majority of North Koreans are not onli ..read more

A North Korean organization under the Workers’ Party has reportedly created thousands of illegal online gambling websites in cooperation with an unidentified South Korean cybercrime ring, the ROK’s National Intelligence Service (NIS) told Yonhap news agency on Wednesday. The investigation appears to be ongoing. In the process, the North Korean organization allegedly received KPW 6.5 million (USD 5,000) for each created gambling website and KPW 4 million (USD 3,000) per month to maintain them. In addition, the NIS suspects that the organization received another KPW 1.8 million to 6.5 million (U ..read more