North Korea is notoriously known for being shut off from the world. Aside from not having its citizens travel freely, the government controls its media and content. Many experts call this propaganda. Many nongovernmental or nonprofit organizations find that North Koreans don’t have freedom of expression and press freedom. But a small group of North Koreans is trying to change that. Lumen and 38 North reveal that North Koreans are jailbreaking phones to access information outside of North Korea. Let’s learn about the Project Reveal report here.
Project REVEAL
The 39-page report published by Project REVEAL gives readers insight into how North Korea can track its citizens’ activities on their smartphones and the internet. It’s an inside look at how North Koreans can connect to the internet through Wi-Fi and 3G, hacking, software, and government response to activities done by North Koreans on their phones.
How North Koreans Are Jailbreaking Phones
Martyn Williams and Nicklaus Schiess interviewed two North Korean defectors and revealed how they hacked smartphones. The interviewees under the pseudonym, Mr. Park and Mr. Kim, detailed their experiences while living in North Korea.
This was their method of hacking:
- They will connect smartphones to their laptop or computer with a USB – this allows them to transfer applications on the smartphone.
- Once the phone is tricked, they can transfer and launch the application without detection.
- When they launch the root access application, this allows them to control their phones and smartphone files.
According to Mr. Park, he said this was a common activity by university students, but most people don’t do this. He stressed that many people don’t know how to use the hacking technology. Plus, he also mentioned that it took him three tries before he could have root access to the phone.
Mr. Kim added to Park’s point about people not knowing how to use root access technology. While the majority of the population there may know how to use a computer for basic tasks, they don’t know how to use complex technology. He also added that they wanted to hack phones to change their start-up screen OR install games or photo filters.
North Korea’s Restrictive Regime
The North Korean government is making it difficult for its citizens to live and be free. Freedom House scored North 0 out of 4 for freedom of expression and belief. Plus, Reporters Without Borders ranks North Korea 180 out of 180 for press freedom.
Added to that, North Koreans also don’t have the freedom to buy a phone easily, unlike most countries where you can line up to buy a new Apple iPhone. And you don’t have to worry (too much) about being tracked.
Sure, they can purchase one. But it takes several steps before they can get their hands on one. Williams and Scheiss detail this in their report, thanks to their interview with Park.
According to his experience, Park says that North Koreans need to fill out an application. It asks for details about their name, occupation, and address. After filling it out, a North Korean will need stamps from the police and a security agency. Once obtained, North Koreans can apply to get a certain smartphone. After that, it takes around three months for a North Korean to get a phone under their name, and North Koreans will pick it up once ready.
North Korea’s Response to Hacking
The North Korean government believes that hacking is a serious offense, as disclosed in the Project REVEAL report. In 2020, the North Korean government enacted a new law on possessing a foreign culture. In addition, anyone owning a smartphone can be fined if they don’t have the propaganda and “impure” publications software installed. Jailbreaking phones may fall under this law. Those who violate the law of possession of foreign content through hard labor or even death. Meanwhile, those who don’t have the software installed may be fined.
Companies should also follow this law, and they would be fined if they don’t control their internet connection or manage their computer network.
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