Smartphone smuggled from North Korea automatically censors ‘oppa’

A North Korean smartphone smuggled out of the country by Seoul-based media outlet Daily NK in late 2024 has revealed new evidence of the regime’s surveillance over its citizens. The smartphone contains state-installed software that censors language, monitors user behavior and restricts access to unauthorized content.

The phone, which resembles a standard Android device, replaces certain words typed by users with politically approved alternatives. For example, “South Korea” is changed to “puppet state,” and “oppa” is substituted with “comrade,” accompanied by an on-screen warning.

It also silently takes screenshots every five minutes and saves them in hidden folders. These files are inaccessible to the user but can be reviewed by authorities.

Users are limited to a domestic intranet called Kwangmyong, which only provides access to government-approved websites. The phone is configured to block foreign networks and prevents the installation of unauthorized apps.

Attempts to alter the device’s software can trigger automatic shutdown or data deletion, according to analysts who examined the phone’s firmware.

Laws in North Korea prohibit access to foreign media, and violations can result in imprisonment, forced labor or even death. Devices capable of circumventing official controls are banned.