Living in North Korea: A Glimpse Beyond the Iron Curtain

Just to be clear, a person from North Korea who has left the country is unlikely to answer the question, “Are there any North Koreans here”. Individuals there have never experienced life outside the regime, which makes their responses to such questions highly subjective.

Internet Access and Communication

For those curious about life in North Korea, one significant source of information is the internet. In North Korea, internet access is strictly regulated. It is available exclusively to government officials and certain individuals deemed necessary for national security. The situation changed in 2013 with the introduction of 3G networks for foreigners, yet the number of internet users remains limited to a few thousand. These users are predominantly high-ranking officials and government employees.

Kwangmyong: The Domestic Internet Service

In the absence of external internet access, the Kwangmyong network serves as the primary internet connection for common citizens. Kwangmyong is a domestic-only service with its own DNS. As of 2014, it hosted approximately 6000 websites. However, the content available on these sites is strictly controlled and aligned with the ideology of the regime. This means that the perspective of North Koreans may not reflect the broader reality of the outside world.

The Comes of Self-sufficiency

The regime in North Korea prides itself on being self-reliant and self-sufficient. This ideology extends to every aspect of life, from economic policies to personal freedom. One prominent example of this self-reliance is the strict control over movements and access to resources.

Migration and Movement Restrictions

Leaving the country is almost impossible without special permission from the regime, which is granted very rarely. The citizenry is encouraged to believe that they do not need anything from the outside world, whether it be scientific advancements, workforce, or wisdom.

Domestic migration is equally restricted. Travel within the country typically requires a specific purpose and approval from the work unit. If you reside outside the capital city of Pyongyang, access to other parts of the country can be denied. Furthermore, the regime has forcibly relocated hundreds of thousands of North Koreans to less favorable regions as a form of punishment and political persecution, as documented by Liberty in North Korea.

Conclusion

While North Koreans living inside the country do not experience internet access in the same way as most other people around the world, they are part of a tightly controlled society that prides itself on self-sufficiency. The regime’s restrictions extend to every aspect of life, from travel to information access. Understanding and appreciating the lives of North Koreans requires a deep dive into the framework of the regime's control and ideology.