In a technology-driven push to tighten control over its population, North Korea has taken an unprecedented step by deploying Chinese surveillance technology in schools and workplaces. The move comes as the isolated nation seeks to enhance its monitoring capabilities, raising concerns about privacy and individual freedoms.
Surveillance Cameras Everywhere
State media reports reveal that video surveillance, primarily sourced from Chinese vendors, is becoming increasingly common in the region. Surveillance cameras are now a fixture in schools, workplaces, and even airports. These cameras capture fingerprints, photographs, and other biometric information, creating a comprehensive record of citizens’ activities.
Digital Ambitions and Challenges
North Korea’s adoption of digital surveillance tools combines imported equipment from China with domestically developed software. However, the country faces significant challenges. Poor electricity supplies and low network connectivity hinder the widespread implementation of surveillance systems. Unlike China, where digital surveillance is pervasive, North Korea’s infrastructure limitations prevent a seamless transition.
Erasing Private Spaces
According to a report, North Korea is collecting fingerprints, photographs and other biometric information from its citizens to keep a record of its population. The growing use of surveillance threatens to erase the few remaining private spaces for North Koreans. Citizens have traditionally found solace in engaging in private business activities, accessing foreign media, and discreetly criticizing the government. Now, with cameras monitoring their every move, these spaces are shrinking rapidly.
Kim Jong-un’s Regime Tightens Control
Analysts believe that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un aims to consolidate his regime’s control over the population. Efforts to promote loyalty and suppress dissent have intensified, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic. Stringent border controls, maintained for three years, allowed the government to limit foreign influence and imported media. Fences and electronic monitoring systems along the China-North Korea border further bolstered surveillance efforts.
Cost and Intentions
The pandemic demonstrated the possibility of tightly closing North Korea’s borders, prompting authorities to maintain this level of control. Martyn Williams, an analyst, explains, “The fast-reducing cost of surveillance equipment played a significant role.” “While in terms of broader surveillance across the country, the pandemic could have played a part, but I think a much bigger role has been played by the fast-reducing cost of surveillance equipment,” Williams added.
Martyn Williams, an analyst and co-author of the study with Natalia Slavney said, “Having seen that it’s possible to close the border this firmly, I think they are now devoted to keeping it that way.”
To understand North Korean surveillance, researchers analyzed domestic and international media reports, reviewed publicly announced research from North Korean institutions, and interviewed 40 escapees. As the price of technology decreases, North Korea’s surveillance capabilities continue to expand.
A Balancing Act by North Korea
While the country seeks to emulate China’s surveillance prowess, it grapples with its unique challenges. The delicate balance between control and citizens’ rights remains precarious. As the regime tightens its grip, citizens find themselves under constant scrutiny, their every move captured by watchful lenses.
In the battle between surveillance and privacy, the korean nation inches closer to the Chinese model. Whether this transformation benefits the regime or stifles individual freedoms remains a critical question.
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