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North Korea Halts 3G Internet Access After One Month

Posted by Soulskill on from the just-testing-to-make-sure-the-rest-of-the-world-is-still-evil dept.

redletterdave writes "After just one month online, North Korea has pulled the plug on its only 3G data network, which was previously made available for tourists to access the Internet starting on Feb. 22. The North Korean government did not explain why its 3G network has been shut off, but given the raised level of international interest in the country's activities (the country is facing UN sanctions after its third nuclear test last month) and how it severed its final communication line with South Korea on Wednesday, the government likely had a change of heart about its loosening communication restrictions. That said, as with most things in North Korea, we may never know the real answer."

10 of 63 comments (clear)

  1. Dear Leader to premiere 10G network soon! by Looker_Device · · Score: 4, Funny

    Dear Leader only wanted 3G to show all how weak and stupid western 3G network is compared to Strong, Valiant Korean 10G network, coming soon!

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    Your political party doesn't care about your rights and only represents corporate interests.
    1. Re:Dear Leader to premiere 10G network soon! by noh8rz10 · · Score: 2

      I assume they only set it up in the first place to spy on visitor communications. NK is building out their cyber team as seen in SK attacks. I guess they decided the spy opportunity wasn't worth it compared to the flow of info into the country.

  2. better link by schneidafunk · · Score: 4, Informative

    This article doesn't have a pop-up ad.

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    Some people die at 25 and aren't buried until 75. -Benjamin Franklin
  3. Their only network engineer... by Midnight_Falcon · · Score: 3, Interesting
    ...probably got caught looking up the term "democracy" on the internet and all his family and friends sent off to gulag, so when network troubles happened after a month, they just let it go down.

    Too bad Kim Jong Il isn't still around. Last I heard, he claimed to be an "internet expert," and he was rumored to be an expert in all things..

    1. Re:Their only network engineer... by bkmoore · · Score: 3, Funny

      ....

      Too bad Kim Jong Il isn't still around. Last I heard, he claimed to be an "internet expert," and he was rumored to be an expert in all things..

      Kim Jong Il invented the internet while an undergraduate student at the Kim Jong Il university. This was during his artistic years when he composed such romantic operas "Kimi, the last of the Tribunes" and the "Flying Chinaman."

    2. Re:Their only network engineer... by OakDragon · · Score: 3, Funny

      ...probably got caught looking up the term "democracy" on the internet and all his family and friends sent off to gulag...

      That's the North Korean "Friends & Family" plan.

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      Dark Reflection
  4. Re:Unhinged ... by gstoddart · · Score: 2

    "of late". They have been that way for at least 20+ years.

    Ever known someone with bipolar disorder? Same kind of thing ... you know they always have it, but sometimes they're just a little more 'out there' than usual.

    Last little while, Kim Jong Un has been blustering quite a bit more.

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  5. Re:lamp by ArcadeMan · · Score: 2

    You should love lapp instead.

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  6. Re:Hold up by SIGBUS · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Obsolete by now, but still a good window into the weirdness of North Korea: http://www.vice.com/the-vice-guide-to-travel/vice-guide-to-north-korea-1-of-3 (warning: autoplay video)

    If you're from someplace that actually has diplomatic relations with them, it might be easier. Then there's this guy, who went with a friend via the Russian border (normally off-limits to Western tourists), spent 36 hours in North Korea without a guide, and somehow managed to stay out of jail: http://vienna-pyongyang.blogspot.com/ (long travelogue including journey across Russia)

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  7. Likely they were finding citizens with cell phones by Koreantoast · · Score: 5, Interesting

    My guess is that they were finding more and more of their own citizens with "tourist" cellphones, and the idea of so many with relatively unrestricted access to the outside world was simply not worth the risk.