Why Are Cell Phones Banned in North Korea?

Why Are Cell Phones Banned in North Korea? thumbnail
A North Korean man is reported to have been executed for making a cell phone call in 2010.

According to the U.K. newspaper the Mail Online, cell phones are not banned in North Korea, but their use is restricted. Certain prepaid cell phones have been banned in North Korea and their use is a criminal offense.

  1. Use

    • Cell phone use in North Korea is limited in range to the capital, Pyongyang, and must be registered with the government. The Cnet website reports foreign visitors entering North Korea have their cell phones confiscated and returned when leaving the country.

    War

    • The Mail Online reports North Korea is still technically at war with South Korea and has declared any contact between its citizens and people within South Korea to be a criminal offense.

    Secrecy

    • According to Cnet, cell phone use is restricted in North Korea at times of problems within the country. The food shortages of 2008 saw a crackdown on cell phone use to restrict the flow of information out of North Korea.

    Black Market

    • The Mail Online explains that in 2010 a black market trade in Chinese cell phones and prepaid international calling cards has grown. International calls out of North Korea are banned by the ruling communist party.

    Punishments

    • The use of cell phones to make calls out of North Korea has been declared an offense punishable by life imprisonment or death, according to the Mail Online.

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References

  • Photo Credit northern korea flag icon. (with clipping path) image by Andrey Zyk from Fotolia.com

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