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| China-Japan-Koreas | |
| Cell Phones Fuel Rebellion in North Korea | |
| 2004-12-08 | |
December 8, 2004: North Korea is facing growing unrest propelled by uncontrolled movement of news via new cell phone networks. North Korea has always tightly controlled information. Radios must be manufactured so that they only receive government stations. Anyone found with a radio that can receive foreign stations is tossed into a labor camp, or worse. Few North Koreans have telephones, and fewer still have computers or Internet access. But several years ago, Chinese telephone companies began bringing cell phone service to areas along the North Korean border. At first, coverage was spotty. But a year ago, new transmission equipment was installed along the border, making it possible to use the Chinese cell phones all along the North Korean border. There has been government owned cell phone service inside North Korea since 2003, but it is expensive for foreigners ($1200 to get the phone, plus about a dollar to make a one minute call, and 25 cents to receive a call.) The government tightly controls who can have a North Korean cell phone, and it's assumed that the phones are tapped. The North Korean system is limited in its coverage. The system covers the highways running between Pyeongyang and Hyangsan, Pyeongyang and Gaeseong and Wonsan and Hamheung, as well as those cities themselves. The North Korean system was soon linked to the Chinese system. This was bowing to economic demands. China is North Korea's largest trading partner, and the source of oil and food assistance. It was North Korean officials working along the Chinese border who forced the issue on connecting the two nations cell phone networks. But now more powerful transmitters allow Chinese cell phones to pick up signals throughout North Korea. This means that the countryside, long completely cut off from anything outside North Korea, was getting news within minutes. Before the cell phones, rural areas often didn't get news about events in North Korea for weeks. That has all changed, and it making North Koreans aware of what a mess their communist rulers have made. The government quickly picked up on this and made cell phones illegal (except in the hands of authorized officials) throughout much of the country. Hundreds of cell phones have been seized, but people have simply gotten much better at hiding them. Chinese cell phones are much cheaper to own and operate, and preferred over the government issue ones. The growing number of refugees from North Korea, and unrest inside the country, is due in part to the increased use of cell phones. Many government officials are in a panic over this, because they have always tightly controlled the flow of information. The current generation of North Korean officials have no experience in a society that has free flow of information. They can't force the Chinese to turn off their cell phone service along the border, and many officials have become addicted to the convenience of cell phone use. It would appear that the North Korean dictatorship will end, not with a bang, but with a ring tone.
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| Posted by:Steve |
| #9 Delete? No! Good advice from someone who knows. |
| Posted by: Shipman 2004-12-08 6:11:22 PM |
| #8 Leaddog2, If you refuse to own a cellphone fine,but don't let other peoples' bad manners deter you. If I may sugest a few things(I used to sell them for a living).Think of the cellphone as insurance,it's a pain paying every month,but if you need it...Other uses are calling local highway patrol if idiot is weaving all over freeway,automobile help in emergency and checking w/spouse if forgot what kind of fruit to get in grocery store(avoiding that argument when you get home-priceless!).As Dar wrote-it's YOUR phone,either keep phone turned off,or the ringer off.Don't give cell# to anyone-"I don't have one","its for company use only","I don't give it out." VoiceMail is feature of most plans-you don't want to be bothered w/it you can get it turned off when activating phone. Get smallest reasonably priced phone. Give it the pocket test-put keys in one pocket,phone in other;walk around and sit down,it shouldn't be too noticeable. This is how you will normally carry phone,so make sure it "fits". Get cheapest 1 yr.contract plan w/some minutes-usually $25-30. Don't go for 2 yrs. if you can help it-in the long run waiving the $25-35 activation fee isn't worth it.Because phones have at best 1 yr.warranty,it is better at end of 1 yr. to get new phone and new 1 yr.contract.(Most companies to keep customers from switching will send you a free phone if renew.You keep your first phone as spare in case second gets lost/destroyed.Replacement cellphones are costly.) If you are buying phone in store and not crowded,ask salesperson to program your home phone# and autoclub/AAA into phones first 2 memory spots.(Also good idea to program your local power and phone co.s' emergency #s.,if you have them w/you get salesperson to program them also.Most cellphones have lighted keypad,making easier to call in the dark.)If the store is not crowded and the salesperson can't be bothered to program #s,fine,leave and go elsewhere.If the people in store can't be bothered to help you when you are giving them money,what are they going to do if you have a question/problem later? The only accessory you need is car-charger.Plugs in cig lighter and should both power phone and recharge batt.Most places will include one for free,otherwise WalMarts,Office Depots,etc. have them for $10-20. Try phone out along your normal travelling area for first week. To save minutes(cheap hint!)cell co.s have free# to call for customer support(611 often),call that and check reception. If you find too many dead spots,another phone from same co. ain't gonna help,return phone and cancel service. Make sure you keep box and ALL the material in box.Cell co.s give you between 14-30 days to cancel w/no penalty. After that,you are stuck! Differ co.s have differ reception in differ cities. A few yrs. ago a company using an actress married to an elder actor as spokesperson and a company who's name rhymed w/splint had the most customer complaints. I don't know what is situation today. I know this is long and has nothing to do w/WOT so if you delete,I understand.Stephen |
| Posted by: Stephen 2004-12-08 5:19:03 PM |
| #7 Cell phones are damn near as bad as wedding rings. Why did the NORKS even let them in the country? It doesn't make any sense. Radios no... cell phones yes? Lack of high quality protein is starting to show on the decision making process. |
| Posted by: Shipman 2004-12-08 4:24:04 PM |
| #6 leaddog2--The key is to remember the phone is there for your convenience, not your callers'! If you don't want to be disturbed, turn it off or turn the ringer down and let calls go to VM. You're the one paying for it, so don't let it dictate your behavior! Of course, you can't do much about the noise and privacy intrusion from others' cell phones in public places, but that's another problem altogether... *sigh* |
| Posted by: Dar 2004-12-08 2:52:30 PM |
| #5 I REFUSE to use a Cell Phone personally. I hate the noise and privacy intrusion. However, I would gladly pay to help some North Koreans obtain information about the True horrors of Kim Jong IL, the Demon Master. It is too bad we cannot help those lost souls over there in such a simple way. [bolding removed by ed.] |
| Posted by: leaddog2 2004-12-08 12:44:17 PM |
| #4 Cool. I expect the authorities are in a panic. It's much harder to oppress an informed populace. Great snark, Steve. :-D |
| Posted by: Barbara Skolaut 2004-12-08 11:32:16 AM |
| #3 My thoughts exactly, Justrand. Substitute "blogs" for "cell phones" and you have our situation exactly. Smash the MSM! Let a thousand blogs contend! |
| Posted by: lex 2004-12-08 11:09:53 AM |
| #2 king kim; the lefts continuing example of a long history of leadership under socialisms values. Here is to hoping all those in the American left get their tickets to this paradise....Our State Department should arrange a trade, for every American leftist they take, we'll take 50 out of Nk labor camps....to be so lucky....the left has a record....its on dsiplay everyday |
| Posted by: Ebbeath Gleart2775 2004-12-08 11:03:28 AM |
| #1 What an interesting year. Dan Rather and Kim Jung Ill may both be brought down by free-flowing information! |
| Posted by: Justrand 2004-12-08 10:53:48 AM |