An analysis of a smartphone produced in North Korea in 2023 has confirmed that a language control function immediately replaces the word “South Korea” with “(forbidden word)” the moment it is typed. The device also contains built-in surveillance features that randomly capture user screens and store them for authorities to review.
The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) published its findings on the 28th (local time) after analyzing the North Korean-made smartphone “Haeyang 701,” obtained from the North Korea-focused outlet Daily NK. Dasl Yoon, a WSJ reporter who personally disassembled and operated the device, reported that it appeared virtually indistinguishable from a standard Android smartphone.
The device was equipped with voice calls, text messaging, various apps, as well as QR code-based payments, money transfers, and even taxi-hailing capabilities. The transfer screen distinguished between “domestic currency” and “foreign currency,” allowing dollar-denominated transfers. However, it could not access the global internet and was designed to connect only to a closed internal intranet operated by North Korean authorities. The Wi-Fi connection feature was also locked.
The app list contained only state-approved movies, music, games, and shopping services. A soccer game featured international players such as Lionel Messi, but South Korea and the United States were excluded from the country selection list.
The most striking feature was the control over language and screen content. Typing “South Korea” immediately converted it to “(forbidden word),” and entering “namchin,” a common abbreviation for “boyfriend” frequently used in South Korean dramas, was auto-corrected to the full word “namjachingu.” By contrast, entering the name of Kim Jong Un, North Korea’s State Affairs Commission chairman, automatically displayed it in bold text.
The surveillance function operated through a folder called “Screen History.” The smartphone automatically captured the user’s screen at random intervals and stored the images in this folder, and users could not disable the feature or delete the saved captures. This appears to be a mechanism for authorities to review these images during device inspections to track whether users have been exposed to outside media or information. According to WSJ reporting, similar screen-capture control features have been found in other state-approved mobile phones.
Ryu Seong-hyeon, a North Korean military defector who appeared in the WSJ analysis video, said he purchased the device on the black market for approximately $250 (about 340,000 won). Given that a North Korean military officer’s monthly salary is less than $1 (about 1,400 won), the device represents a significant luxury for ordinary citizens.
He estimated that only about 10% of North Koreans own smartphones. However, he added that smartphone usage has been spreading beyond Pyongyang into provincial areas in recent years. Ryu stated that watching American or South Korean films can result in up to five years of imprisonment, and distributing such files can carry the death penalty under national law.
This analysis concretely demonstrates how North Korean authorities provide convenient digital services to citizens while simultaneously blocking information inflows through multi-layered controls over language, screens, and network access. It suggests that as smartphone penetration grows, so too does the surveillance infrastructure.