A smuggled phone reveals North Korea's strict methods in monitoring language and suppressing external influences.

A recent analysis of a smuggled smartphone from North Korea in 2024 revealed strict monitoring policies imposed by the Kim Jong Un regime to control the content and language used by citizens, as part of efforts to prevent any foreign cultural influence, especially from South Korea.

According to a report by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), the phone exposed that authorities not only ban foreign media but also rely on advanced techniques to monitor daily terms and replace them with others in line with the state's official discourse.

The leaked data showed that the phone automatically converts common South Korean words into regime-friendly terms. For instance, when typing the word "oppa" _used by women in the South to refer to friends or older brothers_ the device replaces it with "comrade," accompanied by a warning stating "this word can only be used to describe your siblings." Additionally, the term "South Korea" is automatically changed to "puppet state," the official description adopted by the regime to refer to its southern neighbor.

The analysis also revealed that the phone takes automatic screen captures every five minutes without the user's knowledge. These files remain hidden from the device owner, but authorities can access them, enabling them to track any suspicious activity and punish those who breach content restrictions.

Although phones in North Korea do not connect to the internet, authorities continue to tighten security measures to combat the leakage of South Korean media materials, highlighting the gap in freedoms and prosperity between the Koreas.