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North Korea’s Fold and Flip Phones for the Wealthy
Wealthy North Koreans looking for the fanciest phone that money can buy have a choice of several fold- and flip-type models in Pyongyang. Research by NK TechLab shows at least one fold-type phone and five flip-type models are currently available in North Korea. The availability of high-end smartphones is a further sign of the wealth…
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Smartphones Displayed at the Pyongyang Spring Trade Fair
The 24th Pyongyang Spring Trade Fair opened on May 4 in the capital and at least four of the companies selling smartphones in North Korea are exhibiting, according to images carried by state media. Most of the phones on show appear to have been shown previously although I did find a few I hadn’t seen…
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The Big Expansion of North Korea’s Cellular Sector
North Korea’s smartphone and cellphone market has expanded significantly in the last few years and at least 24 domestic brands now compete for market share. That’s an impressive number considering the population of around 26 million and a consumer goods sector that is not particularly commercial. The proliferation of brands, which began around 2023, points…
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A Look at North Korean Cellular Charges
How much does it cost to buy a smartphone and data package in North Korea? Concrete numbers for the former are difficult to come by, but I’ve managed to find a couple of sources that suggest phone prices are not too far removed from those found in Western economies. Data packages too are not too…
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A Look at the Sujongchon 5010 Smartwatch
With competition in the smartphone space, North Korean enterprises have started branching off into related areas such as smartwatches. One of the first to do so was Sujongchon Technology Exchange Company (수정천기술교류사), which launched the Sujongchon 5010. The smartwatch debuted around December 2024 and was on display at the Pyongyang Spring International Trade Fair in…
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North Korea’s first multi-channel IPTV service apparently launched
Manbang has launched North Korea’s first multi-channel IPTV service, offering 20 channels of live television across the country’s internal data network.
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Three things to read, from October 2025
This month’s reading covers North Korea’s new app-based grain voucher system, a report on cyber operations, and a detailed look at a domestically made feature phone.
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A Visual Look at Smartphone Penetration in North Korea
Estimating smartphone use in North Korea is notoriously difficult, but a visual analysis of available data offers the clearest picture yet of mobile penetration.
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A Nascent Fintech Industry Appears in Pyongyang
A nascent fintech sector is emerging in Pyongyang, with competing e-wallet apps enabling cashless payments, currency exchange, and ticket purchases via smartphone.
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North Korea’s Health App Offers Medicines on Demand
A North Korean health ministry app lets citizens order medicines and consult doctors via smartphone — a sign of the state’s growing embrace of digital services.
