The Information Age: North Korean Style 156
An anonymous reader writes "It seems cell phones and the internet have come to the reclusive nation of North Korea — albeit in a manner that you might not expect. North Korea now sports over a million cell phones, although calls are not allowed outside of the country and text messages come daily from North Korean authorities sporting government propaganda. The internet is not the global internet of Twitter and Facebook, but a government-crafted intranet that is restricted to just a tiny percentage of the population. The intranet is restricted to elites in North Korea with good standing. The intranet uses message boards, chat functions, and state sponsored messages; its use has also been encouraged among universities, technical professionals and scientists, and others to exchange info. An even smaller fraction can access the outside internet. All of this seems to be an effort to control the information revolution without losing authority."
They should open up to certain sites (Score:2, Funny)
Re:A Revolution without Losing Authority? (Score:3, Funny)
Its not that simple. The unwashed masses does not become educated just because they got a education. The unwashed masses does not want a revolution either, if by the time they realize they are unwashed, they are not having a hard time living their live. North Korea is changing, perhaps fighting this change, but at the same time welcoming the change.
Will North Korea become Best Korea? Well, if it does, the Internet have a problem, I mean, who shall replace North Korea as a meme?
Dear Leader approve this 1980's BBS! (Score:5, Funny)
Dear Leader wish to remind all BBS user that upload ratios be strictly enforced for glory of True Korea and Worker Party!
Airdrop cheap tablets like leaflets (Score:4, Funny)
NK $p4m (Score:4, Funny)
Lulz @ cptl$m. KrlMrx 4eva. Ma0 MTSBWY.
Re:A Revolution without Losing Authority? (Score:3, Funny)
Its not that simple. The unwashed masses does not become educated just because they got a education. The unwashed masses does not want a revolution either
Oh, the hilarious irony! More? "Is you a unwashed mass, del_diablo?"
(Played for humor only, I suspect English isn't your native language, although you do a lot better than many native speakers at slashdot! Mi Espanol no es muy bueno...)
Re:A Revolution without Losing Authority? (Score:5, Funny)
Cheer up, we've still got Iran. :)
Re:Airdrop cheap tablets like leaflets (Score:5, Funny)
Maybe use even cheaper tablets with no wireless access, but with a 64 Gb cache of the Best of the Internet. I'm thinking Wikipedia, the Food Network recipe files (North Koreans are hungry!), and selected high-quality porn.
Re:"Information age"? (Score:4, Funny)
Repeat that often enough and people might believe you.