Latest news with #NorthKoreans'
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First Post
01-06-2025
- Politics
- First Post
'South Korea' autocorrects to 'puppet state': North Korea's insane measures to enforce propaganda on phones
As you type 'South Korea' in a North Korean mobile, it auto-corrects to 'puppet state'. The phone takes screenshots every five minutes and stores them in a folder inaccessible to the users read more In North Korea, you can't type words in your mobile phone that are closely associated with the South In an era of information explosion, North Koreans' access to the global internet is still non-existent, and the key to this solid firewall is the state's control of personal mobile phones. Now, a detailed report around a phone smuggled out of the country has revealed insane measures that the regime of dictator Kim Jong Un enforces to insulate its people from the influence of South Korean culture. Wild autocorrections In North Korea, you can't type words in your mobile phone that are closely associated with the South, revealed a BBC report. One such word is 'South Korea' itself. The phone autocorrects it to 'puppet state', reflecting the state's official line in which Seoul is considered a vassal state of the US. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Similarly, as you type 'Oppa', a warning flashes on the mobile screen, saying the word can only be used for siblings. In the Korean language, the word literally means 'elder brother' but is mostly used to refer to 'boyfriends' in South Korea. As you type 'Oppa', North Korean phones will automatically change it to 'Comrade'. Random screenshots The surveillance and control measures are not limited to the keyboard. The phones take screenshots every five minutes and store them in a folder inaccessible to the users. They can only be accessed by the authorities, allowing them to monitor user activity in detail. In North Korea, communication devices like radios and smartphones are preset to receive only state propaganda and are sealed to prevent any alterations. Modifying these devices to access external content is considered a severe criminal offence. A recent report, based on testimonies from 649 North Korean defectors, reveals that Kim Jong Un's regime has intensified its efforts to combat 'Western influence' and the influx of outside information. Officials frequently inspect mobile phones for names, language, and slang indicative of exposure to South Korean culture. Additionally, Kim has banned K-pop and K-dramas—South Korean music and television dramas that have gained global popularity—to limit foreign cultural influence.
Newsweek
28-04-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
Kim Jong Un Breaks Silence on North Korean Troops Fighting for Russia
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said for the first time that the country has deployed troops to Russia's Kursk region, calling them "heroes" and describing their role in the operation to push Ukrainians out of the Russian region a "sacred mission." In what appears to be the first official confirmation of North Koreans' involvement in the Ukraine war, Kim was also reported to have said that a monument would be erected in honor of the troops in Pyongyang. "They who fought for justice are all heroes and representatives of the honour of the motherland," KCNA quoted Kim as saying, according to Reuters. North Korea "regards it as an honour to have an alliance with such a powerful state as the Russian Federation," the agency reportedly said. This is a breaking news story and will be updated shortly.
Washington Post
07-04-2025
- Politics
- Washington Post
How the few freedoms North Koreans enjoyed have vanished since the pandemic
SEOUL — The border city of Hyesan once offered a glimpse of a more open version of totalitarian North Korea. It was flourishing in a way that could almost be called capitalist, and residents could easily learn about the outside world in China, located just across a narrow river. Not anymore. A city that once exuded hope now exemplifies how Kim Jong Un has dramatically expanded his authoritarian controls to erode North Koreans' few freedoms, according to residents of and escapees from Hyesan.
Yahoo
19-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
South Korea tells Ukraine it is willing to accept North Korean POWs
SEOUL, Feb. 19 (UPI) -- South Korea will offer "necessary protection and support" to North Korean prisoners of war captured in Ukraine who want to come to the South, Seoul's Foreign Ministry said Wednesday after a local media report quoted a captured soldier who wishes to defect. "North Korean soldiers are our citizens according to the Constitution," a ministry official told UPI in a text message. "Respecting an individual's free will regarding repatriation of prisoners of war is in line with international law and practice," the official said. "They should not be repatriated to a place where they are threatened with persecution." "Therefore, the government will provide necessary protection and support if they request to come to South Korea in accordance with related laws and the basic principle of accepting all requests," the official said. Seoul has conveyed this position to Kyiv and will continue to hold necessary consultations, the official added. The statement came after the Chosun Ilbo newspaper published an interview with a 26-year-old North Korean sniper who was captured by Ukrainian forces last month during combat in Russia's southwestern Kursk region. The soldier, identified by the surname Ri, told the newspaper that he believed he was being sent to Russia for training, not to fight Ukrainian forces. Ri said that he would face difficulties if he returned to North Korea, claiming that "being captured is seen as betrayal." "I've made up my mind about 80%," he told the interviewer. "I'm planning to apply for asylum and go to South Korea. Do you think they'll accept me?" Ri is one of two injured North Korean soldiers who were captured while fighting alongside Russian forces last month, later seen in footage shared by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on social media. North Korea has sent some 12,000 troops to Russia, according to Washington, with many joining battles on the frontlines in Kursk Oblast. However, casualties have been high, with one recent report estimating 1,000 soldiers have been killed and another 3,000 injured or missing. The large number of casualties is due to the North Koreans' "lack of understanding of modern warfare," Seoul's National Intelligence Service said in a January briefing with lawmakers. Footage reviewed by the spy agency revealed the North Korean troops engaging in "pointless" shooting at long-range drones and launching attacks without fire support from the rear. Moscow and Pyongyang have grown closer since Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The two signed a comprehensive strategic partnership treaty in June, which includes a mutual defense clause that calls for mutual military assistance in the event either country is attacked. In addition to troops, North Korea has sent munitions and missiles to aid Russia in its war against Ukraine. The United States has warned that Moscow intends to provide advanced satellite and space technologies to Pyongyang in exchange.
