Despite UN ban, North Korea dispatches around 150 laborers to China
Daily NK recently obtained smartphone apps operated by North Korean mobile carriers. North Korean citizens can subscribe to mobile services online through these apps, with the notable requirement of submitting facial recognition data and personal information during registration.
“Kangsong Mobile Communications 2.0” is an app provided by Kangsong, one of North Korea’s mobile carriers, for their telecommunications services. When launched, the app displays menus such as “Announcements” and “Mobile Services.” The app is believed to have been released in 2021.
According to the app’s help section, Kangsong Mobile Communications 2.0 is described as “a program that enables easy access to mobile telecommunications services via mobile phones.” It also states that “customers subscribed to the Kangsong network can receive various services regardless of location.”
A notable feature is the requirement to register facial information for mobile service subscription. The app’s help section specifically notes that “the face must be completely visible in the frame when taking the photo” and warns that “photos taken while wearing masks or glasses will not be accepted.”
