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North Korean Domain Names Return To the Internet

Posted by timothy on from the still-can't-order-a-decent-bulgogi dept.

angry tapir writes "North Korean domain names have returned to the Internet over the last few days as the country continues to build its presence online. Websites, previously available only via IP addresses, are now accessible through dot-kp addresses and it appears more might be on the way."

24 of 135 comments (clear)

  1. All Fear NK! by Nethead · · Score: 4, Funny

    They have achieved DNS technology. To the bunkers everyone!

    --
    -- I have a private email server in my basement.
  2. Whole country's domain disappeared?? by Spy+Handler · · Score: 2

    The reemergence of KP domain names marks the first time in several months that the North Korean domain has been functional. It was assigned in 2007... (but the domain) disappeared in the second half of last year for reasons that are still unclear.

    How does an entire top level domain simply disappear?

    1. Re:Whole country's domain disappeared?? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      Capitalist oppression.

    2. Re:Whole country's domain disappeared?? by totally+bogus+dude · · Score: 5, Informative

      Pretty easily, at least in this case. The root servers provide these name servers for .kp:

      kp. 172800 IN NS ns2.kptc.kp.
      kp. 172800 IN NS ns1.kptc.kp.

      which are both located on the same class C:

      ns1.kptc.kp. 86400 IN A 175.45.176.15
      ns2.kptc.kp. 86400 IN A 175.45.176.16

      Which generally is indicative of the same network segment. I guess North Korea doesn't have a need for a particularly robust internet infrastructure, so there's a good chance there's just some servers listening on those addresses and no fancy load-balancing or anycast routing going on, and very likely they're at the same physical location.

      If either of those stop responding to queries, then resolution of anything under .kp will fail.

  3. Not a troll by Lord+Byron+II · · Score: 3, Interesting

    This isn't a troll, but a serious question.

    They are an unfriendly, communist, totalitarian regime. We exactly do we care if they are on the Internet?

    Again, this is not a troll. I'm really interested in the ramifications of this action, which at the moment escape me.

    1. Re:Not a troll by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

      If they're open to the internet instead of an intranet, it means they not only can information get out, information can also get IN.

      Or...so we hope.

    2. Re:Not a troll by timid3000 · · Score: 4, Insightful

      They are an unfriendly, communist, totalitarian regime.

      Do you mean like China ?

    3. Re:Not a troll by outsider007 · · Score: 2, Funny

      smaller suprise dongs on chatroullette?

      --
      If you mod me down the terrorists will have won
    4. Re:Not a troll by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Because we live in the same world?

    5. Re:Not a troll by dbIII · · Score: 2

      Communism sort of implies at least pretending to be doing something for people and not being some sort of wierd theocracy worshipping a dead former leader with his son as high priest. That strange cult in Stargate that spent so much time worshipping that they wouldn't be able to grow enough to eat is oddly close to the reality found in that place.

    6. Re:Not a troll by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

      OK, this is what's wrong with Slashdot. The comment by the parent has nothing to do with the GP it responds to. There isn't even a hint that anyone should dictate anything in the GP's post. Still the parent's response to it was modded insightful, probably simply because the comment is vaguely anti-US. The US shouldn't have any say in that, of course, but this is still not a command that adds anything to the discussion at hand, least of all any insight.

    7. Re:Not a troll by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

      Shut up! Shut up you American. You always talk, you Americans, you talk and you talk and say 'Let me tell you something' and 'I just wanna say this', Well you're dead now, so shut up.

    8. Re:Not a troll by Jarik_Tentsu · · Score: 2

      I think what the parent was getting at is...what exactly are they going to put on the internet that is going to harm us? "Bomb the US" sites? And who is going to look at them?

      At least with radical Islamic terrorist groups, they have potential similarly minded extremists all over the globe who may look up these sites and follow them. But how many North Koreans living in other countries who probably escaped as refugees are going to look up North Korean websites and have their actions influenced by that?

    9. Re:Not a troll by jandersen · · Score: 2

      They are an unfriendly, communist, totalitarian regime. We exactly do we care if they are on the Internet?

      Because they are an unfriendly, communist, totalitarian regime; the more they enter into dialog with the rest of the world, other than through a megaphone and the barrel of a gun, the better.

      If you have ever been ostracised for a prolonged period of time, as I have, then you will know that it doesn't do much to make you more open and willing to participate in the normal, more peaceful activities of life. The fact that China has broken out of isolation like they have, is exceptional, and we can't expect a country like NK with its delusional leadership to do this.

      All in all, we should welcome them - then, perhaps they will find the courage to open up more and loose their paramoia, which can only be a good thing for all.

    10. Re:Not a troll by Opportunist · · Score: 3, Insightful

      People are fleeing from NK to China, just to give you an idea that there are various degrees of "bad".

      --
      We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
    11. Re:Not a troll by lwsimon · · Score: 2

      Are the dongs really a surprise at this point, or are they the reason you go there?

      Just sayin'.

      --
      Learn about Photography Basics.
  4. Re:Block List by aliquis · · Score: 2

    Right, another block of domains/ip's to add to my blocking list.

    Yeah, that will make a difference.

    Truly revolutionary!

  5. E-shop by chazchaz101 · · Score: 2

    I wish the E-shop on http://www.naenara.com.kp/en/ wasn't "now in suspension." I could totally go for a t-shirt or something.

  6. Can't view NK domains... by incognito84 · · Score: 4, Funny

    ...or I get a nasty little message telling me not to, here in Seoul. What are they worried about? It's not like looking at webpages that look like they were made in 1994 are going to make me want to cross the border.

  7. One to pre-emptively block by WillerZ · · Score: 4, Funny

    TwoGirlsOne.kp?

    --
    I guess today is a passable day to die.
  8. Strong HTML design by Ailure · · Score: 3, Interesting

    So does this mean we get to see more "strong" HTML? ;)

  9. Re:Invade North Korea From Below by Freultwah · · Score: 2

    North Koreans have at least four times set out to liberate the South this way.

  10. Re:So what? by somersault · · Score: 4, Funny

    Plenty of source material for political satire?

    --
    which is totally what she said
  11. Re:So what? by xclr8r · · Score: 2

    Family to Family status (those who were split due to bad timing of being North or South of the 38th parrallel.

    --
    Beware of those who profit off the docile and persecute the unbelievers.