List of North Korean websites banned in South Korea

As of 2010, there are 65 North Korean-run and pro-North Korean websites blocked in South Korea.[1] A test conducted by OpenNet Initiative in 2010 found that most websites blocked in South Korea are related to North Korea. The number of blocked North Korean sites has increased in recent years.[2]

Korea News Service in Japan carries articles of the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) and is blocked in South Korea.

Blocking is based on the National Security Act, and coordinated by the Korea Communications Standards Commission, which also engages in Internet surveillance.[3] The commission is nominally independent but mainly appointed by the government.[4] The blocks are implemented by Internet service providers (ISPs).[5] South Korean law imposes punishments up to seven years of imprisonment for attempting to access blocked sites.[1] According to Reporters Without Borders, blocking of North Korean websites is not viewed favorably by South Korean Internet users and some know how to circumvent it.[3] Internet Archive's Wayback Machine and web caches of search engines are not blocked and include copies of North Korean websites.[6]

In 2005, up to 3,167 webpages unrelated to North Korea were found to be blocked due to blocking IPs at the router level.[5] DNS tampering that prevents domain names to be resolved into correct IPs is also used.[7]

In addition to entire websites, it is possible to block accounts on social media,[1] and some 13 accounts have been blocked on Facebook, YouTube and Twitter,[3][8] including Uriminzokkiri's Twitter account.[1] Twitter, however, has proven impractical to censor because retweets of North Korean tweets by other users are not blocked.[9] Furthermore, any links to North Korean websites in the tweets are already blocked.[10] Individual contents of websites hosted in South Korea may also be deleted.[3] In 2010, South Korean website administrators were forced to delete 80,499 pro-North Korea messages.[11]

Blocking has increased from previous years.[2] According to Reporters Without Borders, blocking sharply intensified during Lee Myung-bak's presidency.[3] In OpenNet Initiative's 2006 test, the overwhelming majority of tested North Korean websites were blocked.[12] In 2007 and 2008, a significant number of tested North Korean sites remained blocked and blocking was consistent among Internet service providers.[7]

2014 list

edit

The following North Korea-based or pro-North Korean websites were blocked in South Korea in 2014.[13]

Site URL(s) Description Hosted in/by Ref
Air Koryo http://www.airkoryo.com.kp/ Website of North Korea's national airline In North Korea (Pyongyang) [14]
Chochong http://www.chochong.net/[a] Website of the League of Korean Youth Living in Japan (재일본조선청년동맹) In Japan (Tokyo) by Nippon Rad [16]
Cholsan Patent and Trademark Agency http://175.45.176.14/ko/notice/cholsan/[b] A Pyongyang-based patent and trademark attorney In North Korea's IP block on the website of Korea Computer Center [17]
Chongryon http://www.chongryon.com/ Japanese language website of the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryon) In Japan (Tokyo) by Kai Creates [18]
Choson Sinbo http://chosonsinbo.com/ English and Korean language website of Choson Sinbo, a newspaper published by the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryon) In Japan (Tokyo) by Usen [19]
Elufa http://www.elufa.net/ Korean language video portal of the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryon) In Japan (Tokyo) by Otsuka [20]
Faster Korea (Korean Sports Fund)
  • http://ksf.com.kp/en/
  • http://175.45.176.14/en/notice/sports/program/index-1.php[c]
Multilingual website with information about international sports In North Korea's IP block by Star JV [21][22]
Friend (Committee for Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries) http://www.friend.com.kp/ News, e-books and information on cultural exchange In North Korea's IP block by Star JV, on the same server as Naenara [23]
Great National Unity (Pyongyang Broadcasting Station [ko]) http://www.gnu.rep.kp/ Korean language website targeted at audiences in South Korea, Japan and China In North Korea[13]

[24]

Korea Education Fund http://www.koredufund.org.kp/ English and Korean language website of a non-governmental organization coordinating support for education In North Korea's IP block by Star JV [25]
Korea Elderly Care Fund http://www.korelcfund.org.kp/ English and Korean language website of a non-governmental organization dedicated to well-being of the elderly In North Korea's IP block by Star JV [26]
Korea International Film Festival[d] Official website of the Korea International Film Festival and North Korean film industry In North Korea [13]
Korea National Insurance Corporation http://www.knic.com.kp/ Website of North Korea's state-run insurance company In North Korea (Pyongyang) [27]
Korea News Service http://www.kcna.co.jp/ Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) news In Japan (Tokyo) by GMO Internet [28]
Korea Photo Service (Korea News Service) http://www.kns-photo.com/ Distributes Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) photos. In Japan (Tokyo) by Usen [29]
Korea Publication http://www.korea-publ.com/
http://www.dprk-book.com/
Only partially blocked. Sells North Korean books, DVDs and stamps. Run by Beijing Sunyong Scientific Technology Trade company. In China (Beijing) by China Telecom [30]
Korean Dishes http://www.cooks.org.kp/ Website of the Korean Association of Cooks. Includes recipes and restaurant reviews. In North Korea[13] [31]
Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) http://www.kcna.kp/ Multilingual website of the main state news agency In North Korea's IP block by Star JV [32]
Koryo PAT Rainbow http://175.45.176.14/ko/notice/rainbow/index.php?en[e] Website of a patent and trademark agency In North Korea's IP block on the website of Korea Computer Center [33]
Minjok Tongshin http://www.minjok.com/ English and Korean language news In US (Pennsylvania) by 1&1 Internet [34]
Naenara (Korea Computer Center) http://naenara.com.kp/ Naenara (Korean for 'my country') is a multilingual web portal with news, magazines and music. In North Korea's IP block by Star JV [35]
  • http://ndfsk.dyndns.org/
  • http://aindf.dyndns.org/kuguk8/Title1.htm
Korean language news of the National Democratic Front of South Korea's branch in Japan and English language news of the Anti-Imperialist National Democratic Front,[36] a South Korean underground political group[37] Dynamic host [36][37]
North Korea Books http://www.north-korea-books.com/ Canadian online bookstore selling North Korean books, magazines and newspapers In US (Andover, Massachusetts) by NaviSite [38]
North Korea Tech http://www.northkoreatech.org/ Technology blog by British journalist Martyn Williams In US (Provo, Utah) by Bluehost [39][40]
Our Nation School (Kim Il-sung Open University [ko]) http://www.ournation-school.com/ Korean language teachings on the Juche idea In China (Shenyang) by China Unicom [41]
Pyongyang International Trade Fair http://175.45.176.14/ko/notice/2009web/homepage.html[f] Information on the Pyongyang International Trade Fair In North Korea's IP block on the website of Korea Computer Center [42]
Rodong Sinmun http://www.rodong.rep.kp/ Website of Rodong Sinmun, the organ of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea In North Korea's IP block by Star JV [43]
Voice of Korea http://www.vok.rep.kp/ Multilingual website of North Korea's international shortwave broadcaster In North Korea's IP block by Star JV, on the same server as Naenara[35] [44]
Ryomyong http://www.ryomyong.com/ Website of the National Reconciliation Council. Contains books and music. The domain is owned by Rio IT Production based in Shenyang, China. In Australia by Net Quadrant [45][6]
Ryugyong Clip http://www.ryugyongclip.com/ Pyongyang in videos and images In China (Shenyang) by China Unicom [46]
Tong Il Han Ma Eum (Association of Peaceful Reunification of the Motherland) http://www.jpth.net/ Korean language news of the Association of Peaceful Reunification of the Motherland based in Japan (Tokyo) In Japan (Tokyo) by KDDI [47]
Uriminzokkiri http://www.uriminzokkiri.com/ Uriminzokkiri (Korean for 'our nation') is a news portal. In China (Shenyang) by China Unicom [48]

See also

edit

Notes

edit
  1. ^ IP unavailable, discontinued or obsolete as of 3 June 2012.[15]
  2. ^ Website unavailable, discontinued or obsolete as of 24 October 2011.[15]
  3. ^ IP unavailable, discontinued or obsolete as of 24 October 2011.[15]
  4. ^ Website unavailable, discontinued or obsolete as of 12 March 2012.[15]
  5. ^ Website unavailable, discontinued or obsolete as of 24 October 2011.[15]
  6. ^ Website unavailable, discontinued or obsolete as of 19 December 2010. Not updated since 2009.[42]

References

edit
  1. ^ a b c d Sangwon Yoon (25 May 2011). "North Korea Uses Twitter For Propaganda Offensive". The Huffington Post. Kwang-tae Kim (AP). Associated Press. Archived from the original on 7 October 2014. Retrieved 4 October 2015.
  2. ^ a b "South Korea". opennet.net. OpenNet Initiative. 6 August 2012. Archived from the original on 11 September 2015. Retrieved 4 October 2015.
  3. ^ a b c d e "South Korea". en.rsf.org. Reporters Without Borders. Archived from the original on 12 September 2015. Retrieved 4 October 2015.
  4. ^ S.C.S. (10 February 2014). "Why South Korea is really an internet dinosaur". The Economist. Archived from the original on 13 September 2015. Retrieved 13 September 2015.
  5. ^ a b "OpenNet Initiative: Bulletin 009: Collateral Blocking: Filtering by South Korean Government of Pro-North Korean Websites". opennet.net. 31 January 2005. Archived from the original on 12 September 2016. Retrieved 4 October 2015.
  6. ^ a b Weiser, Martin (31 October 2016). "On Reading North Korean Media: The Curse of the Web". Sino-NK. Archived from the original on 7 September 2017. Retrieved 23 July 2017.
  7. ^ a b "South Korea". OpenNet Initiative. 26 December 2010. Archived from the original on 6 June 2012. Retrieved 4 October 2015.
  8. ^ Lee Tae-hoon (9 September 2010). "Censorship on pro-NK websites tight". koreatimes. Archived from the original on 8 December 2015. Retrieved 4 October 2015.
  9. ^ Martyn Williams (24 November 2012). "Retweeting DPRK lands activist with suspended sentance". North Korea Tech. Archived from the original on 10 December 2015. Retrieved 4 October 2015.
  10. ^ Mok Yong Jae (25 August 2010). "Blocking Twitter/Facebook Not the Answer". Daily NK. Archived from the original on 10 December 2015. Retrieved 4 October 2015.
  11. ^ "No. of police requests to delete pro-NK content leaps 45-fold". english.donga.com. 17 September 2011. Archived from the original on 10 December 2015. Retrieved 4 October 2015.
  12. ^ "Internet Filtering in South Korea in 2006–2007". opennet.net. OpenNet Initiative. Archived from the original on 22 December 2015. Retrieved 4 October 2015.
  13. ^ a b c d "The North Korean Website List". North Korea Tech. 17 July 2014. Archived from the original on 23 December 2016. Retrieved 3 October 2015.
  14. ^ "Air Koryo". North Korea Tech. 4 November 2012. Archived from the original on 7 October 2015. Retrieved 3 October 2015.
  15. ^ a b c d e "Change log". North Korea Tech. Archived from the original on 9 October 2015. Retrieved 4 October 2015.
  16. ^ "Chochong". North Korea Tech. 9 December 2010. Archived from the original on 4 October 2015. Retrieved 4 October 2015.
  17. ^ "Cholsan Patent and Trademark Agency". North Korea Tech. 19 December 2010. Archived from the original on 9 October 2015. Retrieved 4 October 2015.
  18. ^ "Chrongryon". North Korea Tech. 8 December 2010. Archived from the original on 9 October 2015. Retrieved 4 October 2015.
  19. ^ "Choson Sinbo". North Korea Tech. 3 June 2012. Archived from the original on 6 October 2015. Retrieved 4 October 2015.
  20. ^ "Elufa". North Korea Tech. 9 December 2010. Archived from the original on 9 October 2015. Retrieved 4 October 2015.
  21. ^ "Faster Korea". North Korea Tech. 5 November 2012. Archived from the original on 9 October 2015. Retrieved 3 October 2015.
  22. ^ "Faster Korea". North Korea Tech. 19 December 2010. Archived from the original on 9 October 2015. Retrieved 4 October 2015.
  23. ^ "Committee for Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries". North Korea Tech. 11 January 2011. Archived from the original on 7 October 2015. Retrieved 3 October 2015.
  24. ^ "Great National Unity". North Korea Tech. 10 February 2013. Archived from the original on 9 October 2015. Retrieved 3 October 2015.
  25. ^ "Korea Education Fund". North Korea Tech. 5 May 2011. Archived from the original on 9 October 2015. Retrieved 3 October 2015.
  26. ^ "Korea Elderly Care Fund". North Korea Tech. 25 May 2011. Archived from the original on 9 October 2015. Retrieved 3 October 2015.
  27. ^ "Korea National Insurance Corporation". North Korea Tech. 10 June 2014. Archived from the original on 9 October 2015. Retrieved 3 October 2015.
  28. ^ "Korea News Service". North Korea Tech. 8 December 2010. Archived from the original on 7 October 2015. Retrieved 4 October 2015.
  29. ^ "Korea Photo Service". North Korea Tech. 9 December 2010. Archived from the original on 9 October 2015. Retrieved 4 October 2015.
  30. ^ "Korea Publication". North Korea Tech. 8 December 2010. Archived from the original on 7 October 2015. Retrieved 4 October 2015.
  31. ^ "Korean Association of Cooks". North Korea Tech. 17 July 2014. Archived from the original on 9 October 2015. Retrieved 3 October 2015.
  32. ^ "Korean Central News Agency". North Korea Tech. 16 April 2011. Archived from the original on 9 October 2015. Retrieved 3 October 2015.
  33. ^ "Koryo PAT Rainbow". North Korea Tech. 19 December 2010. Archived from the original on 9 October 2015. Retrieved 4 October 2015.
  34. ^ "Minjok Tongshin". North Korea Tech. 9 December 2010. Archived from the original on 9 October 2015. Retrieved 4 October 2015.
  35. ^ a b "Naenara". North Korea Tech. 12 March 2012. Archived from the original on 9 October 2015. Retrieved 3 October 2015.
  36. ^ a b "National Democratic Front of South Korea". North Korea Tech. 9 December 2010. Archived from the original on 9 October 2015. Retrieved 4 October 2015.
  37. ^ a b "Anti-Imperialist National Democratic Front". North Korea Tech. 19 December 2010. Archived from the original on 4 October 2015. Retrieved 4 October 2015.
  38. ^ "North Korea Books". North Korea Tech. 16 February 2011. Archived from the original on 9 October 2015. Retrieved 4 October 2015.
  39. ^ Lee, Yoyjyung (5 April 2016). "UK journalist to appeal as Seoul blocks his site on N. Korea". AP. Archived from the original on 8 April 2016. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
  40. ^ "NorthKoreaTech.org WHOIS, DNS, & Domain Info". whois.domaintools.com. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
  41. ^ "Our Nation School". North Korea Tech. 7 December 2010. Archived from the original on 9 October 2015. Retrieved 4 October 2015.
  42. ^ a b "Pyongyang International Trade Fair". North Korea Tech. 19 December 2010. Archived from the original on 9 October 2015. Retrieved 4 October 2015.
  43. ^ "Rodong Sinmun". North Korea Tech. 17 February 2011. Archived from the original on 9 October 2015. Retrieved 3 October 2015.
  44. ^ "Voice of Korea". North Korea Tech. 16 April 2011. Archived from the original on 9 October 2015. Retrieved 3 October 2015.
  45. ^ "Ryomyong". North Korea Tech. 8 December 2010. Archived from the original on 9 October 2015. Retrieved 4 October 2015.
  46. ^ "Ryugyong Clip". North Korea Tech. 7 December 2010. Archived from the original on 9 October 2015. Retrieved 4 October 2015.
  47. ^ "Tong Il Han Ma Eum". North Korea Tech. 9 December 2010. Archived from the original on 9 October 2015. Retrieved 4 October 2015.
  48. ^ "Uriminzokkiri". North Korea Tech. 7 December 2010. Archived from the original on 21 September 2015. Retrieved 3 October 2015.
edit