Smartphone smuggled out of North Korea reveals the insane things Kim Jong Un does to control his ‘suffocated’ people

| Published June 2, 2025

A rare glimpse inside one of the world’s most secretive regimes has surfaced, offering startling evidence of the scale and sophistication of North Korea’s internal surveillance state. A smartphone allegedly smuggled out of the country reveals just how far leader Kim Jong-un’s government is going to control, monitor, and psychologically isolate its citizens.

The footage, reportedly leaked and published by defectors and activists, shows a heavily restricted interface used on state-distributed smartphones. These devices appear designed not for communication or convenience, but for surveillance and ideological enforcement.

According to a BBC investigation, the smartphone is programmed to take screenshots every five minutes, storing them in inaccessible folders likely accessible only to state authorities. The device also includes auto-correction features that change terms like “South Korea” to “puppet state” and replace South Korean slang with state-approved language. These features exemplify the regime’s efforts to monitor and control its citizens’ access to information and cultural expression.

Phones Built for Surveillance, Not Freedom

According to reports, the smartphone’s operating system contains embedded software that permanently logs user activity, including every app opened, photo taken, and document accessed. In addition, every file must pass through state-run watermarking software before being shared — allowing authorities to trace even private transfers.

There is no access to the global internet. Instead, the devices connect only to a closed North Korean intranet, which offers government-curated information and propaganda, devoid of outside perspectives. Attempts to tamper with these restrictions — including trying to delete browsing history or open unauthorized apps — reportedly trigger automatic alerts to government authorities.

Ideological Enforcement Through Technology

The smuggled footage offers more than just evidence of digital control — it reflects a society where technology is weaponized to enforce ideological purity. The phones reportedly display random pop-up reminders about loyalty to Kim Jong-un, and some apps include embedded quizzes or media content designed to reinforce state narratives.

This tightly monitored ecosystem is coupled with a total ban on foreign media. Possession of South Korean dramas, foreign news, or religious texts can lead to imprisonment, forced labor, or worse. The smartphone’s structure reflects a broader strategy: one that uses modern tools not to connect citizens, but to isolate them more effectively than ever before.

The Role of Smugglers and Defectors

The phone’s leak is credited to the growing network of defectors and underground activists, many of whom risk their lives to expose life inside North Korea. These rare data points — whether smuggled videos, photos, or apps — provide critical insight into how the regime adapts to the threat of outside information while doubling down on its grip over daily life.

While Kim Jong-un occasionally allows limited modernization for show — such as Pyongyang residents using tablets or select elites owning cars — the reality for most North Koreans remains dire. The government’s approach to smartphones is just one example of its broader effort to create a reality that is both technologically advanced and ideologically sealed.

The BBC obtained a mobile phone that was smuggled out of North Korea.

The level of control the regime holds over its citizens is shocking but not surprising. pic.twitter.com/CSnle0tuaU

— Yashar Ali 🐘 (@yashar) May 31, 2025

Here are the implications of the revelations about North Korea’s surveillance smartphone system, based on the smuggled footage and reports:

1. Technological Authoritarianism Refined

North Korea is no longer simply cutting off access to the outside world — it is engineering digital tools to actively reinforce state ideology. This shows a shift from passive censorship to proactive psychological conditioning, signaling the regime’s evolution in using modern tech for control.

2. Increased Risk for Citizens and Defectors

The monitoring features built into smartphones dramatically raise the stakes for ordinary North Koreans. Even minor attempts to view unsanctioned content or communicate privately can result in state punishment. For smugglers and defectors, this reinforces how perilous and sophisticated the surveillance environment has become.

3. Blueprint for Other Authoritarian States

The regime’s use of closed networks, watermarking, and behavioral tracking offers a possible model for other authoritarian regimes. Countries already leaning toward digital repression may be observing and learning from North Korea’s methods, raising concerns about the global spread of surveillance-state practices.

4. New Challenges for Human Rights Advocacy

The growing use of customized, state-controlled tech tools complicates international efforts to get uncensored information into — or out of — North Korea. NGOs and activists will need new strategies to counter tech-enabled oppression, as traditional smuggling methods become more detectable and dangerous.

Overall Takeaway:

The smuggled North Korean smartphone reveals a chilling portrait of a regime that has weaponized technology to tighten its grip on its people. Far from liberating or connecting citizens, these state-issued devices are designed to monitor, indoctrinate, and isolate — all while giving the illusion of modernization. This development underscores how authoritarian control is evolving in the digital age, becoming more invasive, adaptive, and psychologically engineered than ever before.

SOURCES: THE NEW YORK POST – Smartphone smuggled out of North Korea reveals the insane things Kim Jong Un does to control his ‘suffocated’ people

MATZAV – Smartphone Smuggled Out of North Korea Reveals the Insane Things Kim Jong Un Does to Control His ‘Suffocated’ People