Service Providers and Access in North Korea
Internet access in North Korea is provided by Star Joint Venture Co., a joint venture between the North Korean government and Thailand-based Loxley Pacific.
- Prior to Star JV, internet access was only available via satellite links to Germany or direct connections with China Unicom.
- Foreigners have been able to access the internet since February 2013.
- Permission to access the Internet remains tightly restricted, but the IT industry is growing and internet access is gradually increasing within North Korea.
- In October 2010, the Korean Central News Agency’s website went live from a web server hosted in North Korea, marking the country’s first known direct connection to the Internet.
- As of December 2014, 1,024 IP addresses were known to exist in North Korea, with the total number of Internet users estimated at no more than a few thousand.
- Access to the global Internet is limited to high-ranking officials, members of NGOs, and government ambassadors.
- Access to the internet is monitored in North Korea’s academic institutions, with access limited to retrieving scientific and technical information.
- The government’s isolation policies have limited knowledge about the electronics industry in North Korea.
- In April 2016, North Korea began to block Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, and South Korean websites due to concerns about the spread of online information.
- In September 2017, Russian telecommunication company TransTeleCom established direct Internet connection to North Korea, causing China Unicom to no longer be the sole provider of Internet access.
- In December 2023, North Korea planned to move from its current 3G network to a 4G network.
Websites Blocked in North Korea
Web access is available in North Korea, although it is only granted with special permission. It is mostly used by the government as well as by foreigners. The country has some infrastructure for broadband, including fibre-optic connections connecting important institutions. Most individuals and institutions receive online services via a free domestic-only network known as Kwangmyong, with access to the global Internet restricted to a much smaller number.
In this article, we will look into the list of websites not allowed in North Korea by the North Korean Government and the reasons for their ban.
Table of Content
- Internet Censorship in North Korea
- List of Websites Blocked in North Korea
- Methods of Website Blocking in North Korea
- Service Providers and Access in North Korea
- IP Address Ranges in North Korea
- Is it Safe to Visit North Korean Websites?
- Why is Social Media Banned in North Korea?
- Impact of Restricted Internet Access in North Korea