Domestic Censorship
North Korea is one of the most paranoid states in the world when it comes to who has access to the internet. The population of North Korea is estimated at 25 million people, but only a very few have access to the internet. One of the primary reasons North Korea does not have internet access is the domestic censorship policies. The North Korean government tightly controls the information that its citizens can access, and it has done so since the country’s inception. This means that only approved and vetted information is made available to the public, and any content that is deemed to be politically or socially subversive is blocked from view. This level of domestic censorship has resulted in the absence of internet access for the vast majority of North Koreans.
Lack of Infrastructure
Another primary reason North Korea does not have internet access is the lack of sufficient infrastructure. North Korea is one of the most impoverished countries in the world, and as such, access to technology and the internet has been limited. Additionally, the country is largely isolated from the outside world, making it difficult to acquire the necessary equipment and infrastructure needed to access the internet.
The government of North Korea has in the past prohibited the sale and use of computers, cell phones, and other modern technologies, a restriction that has significantly hampered the country’s ability to access or develop the necessary infrastructure needed to gain widespread access to the internet.
Cultural Expenses
In addition to the lack of infrastructure, there are a number of cultural factors that have contributed to North Korea’s lack of internet access. One of the primary reasons is the cost associated with such access. Despite the fact that some of the more prosperous countries in the region, such as South Korea and China, provide their citizens with free or subsidized internet access, North Korea does not offer such services. This means that access to the internet is much more expensive in North Korea than in its neighbors, a fact that has greatly hindered the country’s progress towards gaining universal access to the internet.
Social Climate
The social climate of North Korea has also been a major contributor to the country’s lack of internet access. In North Korea, the government tightly controls the flow of information, both domestically and abroad. This means that citizens are not allowed to access information from outside sources, nor express any opinions that could be considered counter to the government’s official policy. This form of censorship has led to an environment of fear in which citizens are reluctant to speak out against the government or access any form of content that is potentially subversive. This form of repression has resulted in a widespread lack of interest in gaining access to the internet, further contributing to the country’s lack of access to the World Wide Web.
Political Policies
The political policies of North Korea also play a significant role in the lack of access to the internet. The government has long been suspicious of outside influences, and has sought to limit the amount of information its citizens are able to access. This has resulted in North Korea boasting one of the most restrictive internet policies in the world, which has significantly hampered the country’s progress towards gaining widespread access to the World Wide Web.
The country’s government has, in the past, attempted to crack down on citizens who have attempted to access or use the internet. This has resulted in a widespread fear among citizens of the potential consequences of being caught accessing unauthorized information. Such policies have resulted in citizens shying away from the internet, further contributing to the lack of access in the country.
Domestic Consequences
The lack of internet access has also had a number of domestic consequences. One of the most significant is that it has hampered the country’s economic growth. Without access to the internet, North Korean citizens are unable to tap into the global economy, which means that the country misses out on a large source of potential economic growth. Additionally, the lack of internet access has severely limited the country’s ability to access or share information, which in turn has hampered the growth of the country’s education system and prevented its citizens from accessing a wealth of knowledge and insight.
International Intervention
Despite the fact that North Korea is one of the most isolated countries in the world, international intervention has been proposed as a potential method for ensuring that the citizens of the country are provided with access to the internet. The United Nations, for example, has proposed a plan that would provide North Koreans with free and unrestricted access to the World Wide Web, a move that would allow the citizens of the country to access a wealth of information that is currently unavailable to them.
Humanitarian Organizations
A number of humanitarian organizations have also attempted to provide North Korea with access to the internet, though such efforts have been largely unsuccessful. Organizations such as the Open Technology Fund have attempted to establish a number of internet access points in the country, though the limited infrastructure and perceived threat of censorship have often prevented these efforts from succeeding.
Government Response
The government of North Korea has largely remained silent on the issue of internet access, though it has instituted a number of restrictive measures in an effort to limit access to the World Wide Web. These measures have included blocking certain websites and actively censoring online content, an action that has significantly hindered the country’s progress towards gaining widespread access.
Conclusion
Overall, the lack of internet access in North Korea is due to a variety of factors, including domestic censorship policies, lack of infrastructure, cultural expenses, social climate, political policies, and government responses. Despite the fact that international intervention and humanitarian organizations have attempted to address the issue, such efforts have largely been unsuccessful due to the limited infrastructure and restrictive measures of the North Korean government.
