North Korea's Digital Underground (opens in new tab)

(theatlantic.com)

129 pointsphilk15y ago23 comments

23 comments

17 comments · 7 top-level

jonny_eh15y ago· 3 in thread

Just last night I watch "The Vice Guide to North Korea". If you want to see video of NK from the inside I highly recommend it, really creepy.

http://www.vbs.tv/watch/the-vice-guide-to-travel/vice-guide-...

dacort15y ago

And if you ever want to see NK yourself from the inside, check out http://www.koryogroup.com - took a tour with them a couple years ago and was an interesting experience.

chr1515y ago

This is really interesting. How much did it cost? What was the experience like?

1 more reply

spoiledtechie15y ago

torrent for it:

http://btjunkie.org/search?q=Vice+Guide+to+North+Korea

arepb15y ago· 3 in thread

Most computers, which generally run on pirated Microsoft software, come from China. The country’s only computer-manufacturing company, Morning Panda, produces barely 10,000 a year. If computers are rare, printers are even more so. They are closely monitored because of their potential for spreading anti-regime documents.

I'd love to see a Morning Panda computer in action. Anyone have a picture?

dpapathanasiou15y ago

A Russian blogger who visited NK last year bought a copy of the NK-produced "Red Star" operating system (in reality, a flavor of Linux), but he doesn't show the hardware: http://ashen-rus.livejournal.com/4300.html

1 more reply

philthy15y ago

a little birdy told me they are just a crummy Lenovo desktop clone, which isn't surprising they are just copies, the NKs are exceptional counterfeiters and copiers

aquarin15y ago

When I learned to program I used a clone of Apple II. At that time it was the only way to produce computers in my country (former communist one). http://www.pravetz.info/images/pravetz/photo-imko-2-1.jpg

1 more reply

philthy15y ago· 3 in thread

those pirated copies of windows are probably so dangerous, who knows what kind of malware comes along for the ride, it would be like passing the same women around to millions of men...

pmjordan15y ago

Without internet access, does it really matter?

philthy15y ago

I pray you don't work in IT...

1 more reply

warfangle15y ago

The article was incorrect on this account - NK distributes its own flavor of Linux.

kulpreet15y ago· 1 in thread

North Korea seems to be among the trending, non-tech-related topics on HN. Really interesting stuff.

wisty15y ago

I think China's attitude has changed, so they are letting reports come out through the border.

Or the article could be right - the flood of second-hand electronics has changed some North Korean citizens' attitudes.

gacek15y ago

I was surprised by the last scene in the video. In most countries no police officer on duty would tolerate being verbally and physically assaulted. Is he afraid (the woman being a party official), or is there another reason (e.g. cultural differences - with angry woman hitting man during conversation).

I'd love to see a documentary based on this underground material.

jhamburger15y ago

If you want to put a face to the suffering of north koreans, check out the young man in the middle of the embedded video. Quite unlike anything I've ever seen.

haploid15y ago

Is this the North Korean people's chance to do the hump?

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse

23 comments

17 comments · 7 top-level

jonny_eh15y ago· 3 in thread

Just last night I watch "The Vice Guide to North Korea". If you want to see video of NK from the inside I highly recommend it, really creepy.

http://www.vbs.tv/watch/the-vice-guide-to-travel/vice-guide-...

dacort15y ago

And if you ever want to see NK yourself from the inside, check out http://www.koryogroup.com - took a tour with them a couple years ago and was an interesting experience.

chr1515y ago

This is really interesting. How much did it cost? What was the experience like?

1 more reply

spoiledtechie15y ago

torrent for it:

http://btjunkie.org/search?q=Vice+Guide+to+North+Korea

arepb15y ago· 3 in thread

I'd love to see a Morning Panda computer in action. Anyone have a picture?

dpapathanasiou15y ago

1 more reply

philthy15y ago

a little birdy told me they are just a crummy Lenovo desktop clone, which isn't surprising they are just copies, the NKs are exceptional counterfeiters and copiers

aquarin15y ago

1 more reply

philthy15y ago· 3 in thread

those pirated copies of windows are probably so dangerous, who knows what kind of malware comes along for the ride, it would be like passing the same women around to millions of men...

pmjordan15y ago

Without internet access, does it really matter?

philthy15y ago

I pray you don't work in IT...

1 more reply

warfangle15y ago

The article was incorrect on this account - NK distributes its own flavor of Linux.

kulpreet15y ago· 1 in thread

North Korea seems to be among the trending, non-tech-related topics on HN. Really interesting stuff.

wisty15y ago

I think China's attitude has changed, so they are letting reports come out through the border.

Or the article could be right - the flood of second-hand electronics has changed some North Korean citizens' attitudes.

gacek15y ago

I'd love to see a documentary based on this underground material.

jhamburger15y ago

If you want to put a face to the suffering of north koreans, check out the young man in the middle of the embedded video. Quite unlike anything I've ever seen.

haploid15y ago

Is this the North Korean people's chance to do the hump?

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse