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North Korea's Own OS, Red Star

Posted by timothy on from the linux-is-sometimes-for-communists dept.

klaasb writes "North Korea's self-developed computer operating system, named 'Red Star,' was brought to light for the first time by a Russian satellite broadcaster yesterday. North Korea's top IT experts began developing the Red Star in 2006, but its composition and operation mechanisms were unknown until the internet version of the Russia Today TV program featured the system, citing the blog of a Russian student who goes to the Kim Il-sung University in Pyongyang."

10 of 316 comments (clear)

  1. So, not a new operating system, just YAGLD by GNUALMAFUERTE · · Score: 4, Informative

    Yet Another GNU Linux distro.

    With a skin that resembles windows, and rebranded apps.

    Here's an article with a bit more of information

    http://techie-buzz.com/linux-news/red-star-os-linux-distro-north-korea.html

    The "My Country" browser is just firefox.

    Interesting is, they are in violation of the GPL. But then again, It's North Korea ...

    --
    WTF am I doing replying to an AC at 5 A.M on a Friday night?
  2. Re:I might have had something to say but... by maeka · · Score: 5, Informative

    Ahh Ha!
    An actual article exists!
    With photos!
    http://rt.com/Top_News/2010-03-01/north-korea-cyber-weapon.html?fullstory

  3. Slightly more info... by CannonballHead · · Score: 4, Informative

    mentions that the browser "my country" is actually a fork of FF

  4. Lots of Screenshots by quangdog · · Score: 2, Informative

    http://pics.livejournal.com/ashen_rus/gallery/0000gyzd

  5. Re:2010: by h4rr4r · · Score: 2, Informative

    It is just KDE, it does not look like windows anymore than OSX.

  6. Re:2010: by FailedTheTuringTest · · Score: 3, Informative

    It's not intended to copy Windows, it just looks like Windows the same way Gnome and KDE both resemble Windows. http://rt.com/Top_News/2010-03-01/north-korea-cyber-weapon.html?fullstory

  7. Violating the GPL? by DragonWriter · · Score: 3, Informative

    They aren't violating the GPL if they aren't distributing it (which i don't believe they are yet)...

    They also aren't violating the GPL if the jurisdiction they are in does not require them to have the permission of the copyright holder to make a derivative work in the first place, since the GPL is merely a license by which the copyright holder grants someone else rights which would otherwise be exclusive under law to the copyright holder.

    Since its the North Korean government operating within North Korea we're talking about, here, I'm pretty sure the local laws don't require them to have a license from anyone to do anything they want.

    1. Re:Violating the GPL? by DragonWriter · · Score: 3, Informative

      Only on Slashdot would we worry about a country violating the GPL without discussing their violation of most international treaties, common sense, the Bible, nuclear test ban treaties, and the basic human rights of their own citizens.

      Its impossible to not violate at least some of that set, since they pose mutually exclusive demands. (In fact, the one you've capitalized, on its own, poses mutually exclusive demands, so its impossible not to violate it alone.)

  8. Re:amerika has executions by CrimsonAvenger · · Score: 3, Informative

    Note, by the by, that even if one assumes that all executions in the USA are purely random (as opposed to punishment for a specific crime), the chance of being killed by lightning is about twice as high as the chance of being executed.

    --

    "I do not agree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it"
  9. Re:A firewall is the least of the problems by yossarianuk · · Score: 2, Informative

    I would argue that North Korea is not a communist country (as defined by Marx), neither was the soviet union or china,