North Korea’s smartphone and cellphone market has expanded considerably in the previous few years, and no less than 24 home manufacturers now compete for market share. That is a powerful quantity contemplating the inhabitants of round 26 million individuals and a client items sector that’s not notably industrial.
The proliferation of manufacturers, which started round 2023, factors to the North Korean regime’s rising acceptance of the digital financial system, even transferring some state companies, reminiscent of drugs supply and ration coupons, on-line. On the identical time, this comparatively hands-off strategy to cell telecommunications additionally demonstrates regime confidence that the state can preserve its grip on smartphones so they aren’t used to undermine its management.
Particulars of the 24 manufacturers, the businesses behind them and present smartphones are previewed right here and included in Smartphones of North Korea 2026, which is now revealed on NK TechLab.
Smartphone Manufacturers
For many of the first decade of the smartphone period in North Korea, there have been solely a handful of manufacturers. Arirang and Pyongyang each appeared early in 2009 when smartphones first went on sale and had been later joined by Phurunhanal after which Jindallae. In the present day, issues are very completely different.
Whereas these 4 manufacturers are nonetheless accessible, a plethora of latest names have entered the market. Most seem like from North Korean buying and selling corporations, that are utilizing their worldwide connections to leap on what’s evidently a sizzling market.
For instance, Madusan has no less than six handsets in its vary together with one of many few flip-type smartphones in North Korea, however the corporate doesn’t seem to have any experience within the electronics trade. It lists actual property, fishing operations and treasured metals amongst its enterprise areas and can be the developer of a proposal to construct a global free commerce zone in Sinuiju.
In some circumstances, established manufacturers are advertising their very own smartphones. This consists of Manmulsang, which operates a web-based commerce platform, and Mokran, which affords hundreds of movies on DVD and by way of streaming.
The scale of the market was mirrored within the giant shows given to smartphone makers at a collection of occasions, together with the Mild Trade Growth Expo in October 2025, the place a number of smartphone manufacturers displayed their product ranges on giant cubicles. Many of the handsets assist 4G, which was launched in North Korea in October 2023.
It’s inconceivable to inform the recognition of respective manufacturers as a result of such knowledge just isn’t launched, nevertheless, smartphones seem like very talked-about. Residents clutching telephones are recurrently seen in North Korean media.
Manufacturing and Software program
Of the handsets detailed within the report, all seem to have been produced by Chinese language authentic gear producers (OEMs). Regardless of occasional claims that telephones are produced in North Korea, it seems this just isn’t the case.
The presumed manufacturing move begins with the Chinese language OEM maker. As soon as telephones have been manufactured, they’re shipped to North Korea the place the working system and apps are put in by every model.
The working system is a personalized variant of Android and consists of a number of safety modifications. Key amongst these is a digital signature system that forestalls the telephone from accepting any apps or content material that have not been digitally signed by the North Korean authorities.
This technique is prime in sustaining authorities management of the smartphone eco-system and avoiding smartphones getting used for consumption of unsanctioned media or the set up of unapproved apps.
The system is coupled with an app referred to as Hint Viewer that takes screenshots whereas the telephone is getting used. Customers can see the time and date every screenshot is taken and the app that was getting used on the time, however they can’t view the screenshots or delete them. It’s unclear how these screenshots are utilized by the authorities, however the presence of the app absolutely has a “Huge Brother” impact that’s meant to make customers assume twice earlier than doing something that would get them into bother.
Along with the system safety software program, telephones are put in with quite a few apps. The apps on every telephone are completely different relying on the telephone model though some generally seem throughout a number of telephones, probably as a result of they’re well-liked. These embody the apps for the Rodong Sinmun Occasion each day newspaper, the Samhung E-Pockets digital purchasing app, and each Mokran Video and Manbang streaming apps.
Whereas some content material and Android app recordsdata might be downloaded throughout the community, the North Korean cell ecosystem seems to lack an app store-like operate the place updates might be pushed to telephones. As a substitute, customers should go to a community of a whole lot of “IT Trade Facilities” that exist throughout the nation the place new apps and content material might be transferred into telephones.
Conclusion
North Korea has lots to realize from advancing cell telecommunications.
Importantly, cellphones have supplied the North Korean individuals with the power to speak with others, which may enhance high quality of life and may deliver advantages for the financial system. Penetration of landlines was by no means large within the nation. The newest knowledge supplied by the nation mentioned it had solely 1.18 million landlines in 2007. Mobile service started a 12 months later, and there have been already a reported 6.35 million cell phone subscriptions in 2024, in accordance with knowledge from the Worldwide Telecommunications Union.
Cellphones can even deliver further leisure to individuals via video games and video streaming, which is essential because the state tries to stamp out consumption of illicit media smuggled from abroad. It’s far more troublesome for customers to bypass the safety on telephones, versus radios which might be adjusted to obtain overseas content material.
Some state companies are additionally logging on in addition to such private companies as paying for public transportation, e-payments, and supply companies. The elevated use of cellphones to facilitate on a regular basis actions provides the federal government one other solution to acquire knowledge, monitor habits, and surveil people.
Whether or not the market can assist so many manufacturers is unclear. Chinese language OEM telephone producers absolutely have minimal order sizes and the stiff competitors in North Korea may imply some buying and selling corporations battle to become profitable. For residents although, the competitors probably helps maintain costs down.
Over the subsequent few years, it’s probably the cell ecosystem will proceed to develop in North Korea whereas firmly remaining inside boundaries set by the state.
