A North Korean smartphone ad/ Korea Times file

By Yi Whan-woo


Rodong Sinmun, the official newspaper of North Korea's ruling Workers' Party, published an article recently on the adverse effects of smartphones. The paper suggests the reclusive state worries about the misuse of smartphones as much as the outside world does.

In a Dec. 18 commentary, the newspaper referred to France's ban on the use of smartphones in classrooms, and said many countries are suffering from classroom chaos due to students' use of mobile devices.

Quoting a teacher from an unidentified country, the paper said excessive use of cellphones reduces students' motivation to study and leads them to waste time.

"What's worse is that erotic texts, fiction and videos, as well as violent electronic games, are spreading through mobile phones without limits," the paper said. "It means mobile phones are used as tools to instill unhealthy ideas into the minds of minors."

The number of mobile phones in use in North Korea is estimated at around 6 million among its population of 25 million, with each device priced between $100 and $200, according to Unification Minister Cho Myoung-gyon.

The internet is not freely available in North Korea and only an intranet network is accessible through the devices.

Pyongyang has been stepping up calls recently for learning up-to-date technologies and boosting the country's science and technology capacity.

The state-controlled Korean Central TV in November introduced a WiFi service and a new smartphone, the Arirang 171, developed in-country.

It said smartphones have become an essential part of work and life worldwide.