North Korea is proceeding with replacing Chinese-made PCs with domestic products in Workers' Party and administrative institutions. The widespread prevalence of computer viruses and leakage of classified information are believed to be the underlying reasons. Institutions that have already adopted the new systems appear to be giving them positive reviews for "good performance." This report comes from a reporting partner living in a city in North Hamgyong Province. (HONG Mari / KANG Ji-won)
◆ "Good Quality" Reputation, Introduction Starting with Key Institutions
This reporting partner, a Workers' Party member, relayed information heard from an official at the Planning Bureau of the city’s People's Committee (local government) in late July. Since mid-May, work has been underway to convert from Chinese-made PCs, which had been mainstream, to domestic products for Party and administrative institutions.
"New computers manufactured at the Pyongsong Electronics Factory using Chinese components have been introduced to the People's Committee and provincial Party institutions, about 10 units each. They're getting good reviews for quality."
The reporting partner explained the background for the replacement: "The introduction was decided because viruses were widespread and frequently caused problems with Party and administrative institution computers." He added, "Priority installation is given to key institutions first, and other organizations will install them as budgets become available."
◆ Fingerprint Recognition, "Red Star" OS... Latest Features Equipped
So what is the structure of these new domestic PCs? Rather than being integrated units like laptop computers, they are separate monitor and main unit types.
Regarding security, the reporting partner explained: "Passwords are set so that no one other than the authorized user can operate the computer. This prevents outsiders from using them for games or other purposes. Computers at the Ministry of Social Security (police) and Ministry of State Security (secret police) are even equipped with fingerprint authentication functions."
The installed OS (operating system) is reportedly "Red Star," independently developed by North Korea. In North Korea, computers using Windows systems imported from China have been widely used in both public and private sectors since the 1990s. "Red Star" is an operating system that North Korea has been independently developing since around 2010, based on Linux, a freely available overseas OS. The transition to domestic computers appears aimed at breaking away from overseas dependence for digital infrastructure and strengthening the security foundation of the entire system.
Additionally, PCs are commonly infected with viruses through external storage devices such as USB drives and SD cards. These external storage devices are also major pathways for highly classified information to leak domestically and internationally.
This is likely to prevent such situations. The reporting partner stated: "The new computers are designed so that USB drives or SD cards cannot be inserted. Also, without security software called the 'Shield Program,' data cannot be copied or moved."
Furthermore, all screw sections are reportedly sealed to prevent unauthorized tampering with the computer's interior. This shows a thorough vigilance against device modification, virus infection, and information dissemination.
