North Korea to allow limited access to "the internet" on cellphones

Looks like North Korea -- a place not known for its liberal attitudes toward communication of information -- may slowly be taking another baby step toward the 21st century. The country, which only began allowing limited access to cell phones last December, has announced that now, limited access to the internet will be available on mobiles as well. Apparently about 20,000 of North Korea's estimated 23 million citizens now have cell phones, and though there is scant detail about what the internet access will constitute, an estimated 400 million dollars was spent to construct the 3G network in the country. So while there's no real bright side to the story, at least those lucky few who can look at Kim Jong Il's official website will have a decent connection.

[Makavre @ May 23rd 2009 2:27AM]

LOL ... that image .... priceless

[AMiSH PiRATE @ May 23rd 2009 2:49AM]

America, Fuck Yeah!

[Steven @ May 23rd 2009 3:52AM]

$400 million 3G network, or a $400 million remote nuclear launch system? hmmm....

[Wwhat @ May 23rd 2009 5:04AM]

Lesson learned, never ask genepro05 for any analysis of anything.

[GodCentMe @ May 23rd 2009 5:26AM]

Derka Derka, Mohammed Jihad!!!

[Troels C @ May 23rd 2009 6:46AM]

It's from the movie "Team America". That picture says it all :)

http://www.teamamerica.com/

[Sisyphus @ May 23rd 2009 8:22AM]

Wow... did the Drudge Report link to this post?

Seems like all of the conservative dolts are out in force this morning.

[m3tric @ May 23rd 2009 12:05PM]

"HANS BRIX??? AWWWW NOOOO"

"BRING HERRRRRRRRRR, UP- STAIRS!"

[Stop @ May 23rd 2009 2:05PM]

Seeing Dave's and Genepro's comments voted negatively means this blog must be a qink trolls infested site.

[Wwhat @ May 23rd 2009 2:57PM]

@Stop
What does 'qink' mean? none of my resources seem to know.
Are you perhaps trying to use the pre-1970's word 'pink'? And if that's it, are you over 65? And if you are, do you really think you are excused from moving on past the 70's just because your are over 65? And if so, do you think it's appropriate that you would be using the internet?
Just wondering.

[00ガンダム @ May 23rd 2009 3:57PM]

I guess the benifit is that those "select few" will be less ronery?

[kuade @ May 23rd 2009 6:23PM]

@gene @dave

I ranked you up! what? we are no longer allowed to say the truth?

[cherylmikela @ May 23rd 2009 11:17PM]

"Eye glasses chain Megane Top in Japan is now offering "virtual fittings" by allowing shoppers to use their cell phones to try on glasses." (courtesy of geeksugar).........Think Kim Jong is overdue for a makeover.

[darkmax @ May 23rd 2009 2:32AM]

Watch out! The Stingray is coming!!!!! or is that the Thunderbirds?!

[EI8HT @ May 23rd 2009 3:47AM]

no thats Team America

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0372588/

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xhve8_team-america-im-so-ronery_fun

[darkmax @ May 23rd 2009 4:18AM]

must be the new guys. I haven't seen a puppet tv show in decades.

[Phoenix @ May 23rd 2009 6:42AM]

it was just a film, actually.

[michas_pi @ May 23rd 2009 2:32AM]

Dear Reader

[loocas @ May 23rd 2009 5:18AM]

Yes...?

[mahmud @ May 23rd 2009 2:33AM]

herro engadget, posting from cellphone!

[Johnny K @ May 23rd 2009 11:54AM]

The beginning of Glasnost in N Korea? Wouldn't that be something...

[Marty @ May 23rd 2009 2:43AM]

This was inebi-in-inebitable.

[jorgemsousa @ May 23rd 2009 3:23AM]

It's what?

[Greggoo @ May 23rd 2009 3:58AM]

open your goddamn ears woman!

[Killiam XXIII @ May 23rd 2009 4:29AM]

"Inevitabre! Things are inevitabrey going to change! Goddamnit, open your fucking ears!"

[F.E.F Red Fury @ May 23rd 2009 4:32AM]

"Why is evawyrone so fuckin' stoopid?"

[SiXiam @ May 23rd 2009 5:36AM]

M C F L Y....

[Golferal @ May 23rd 2009 5:18PM]

I'm so ronery.....

[octoberasian @ May 23rd 2009 2:44AM]

Wouldn't their internet access be similar to China's-- censored, filtered, and restricted in what one can view in their country?

[abbas350 @ May 23rd 2009 2:47AM]

still better than verizon

[atomicthumbs @ May 23rd 2009 3:36AM]

Knowing North Korea, you'll only be able to access North Korean governmental sites.

[Valicore @ May 23rd 2009 3:38AM]

China allows access to most sites I'd say, and there are a lot of ways to get past it that are pretty easy. North Korea will probably allow you to access a WAP site so you can donate your 1 dollar a year salary to the building of a statue of Kim Jong Il.

[loopyoyo @ May 23rd 2009 2:46AM]

probably better 3g service than you find in America...which is freaking ridiculous is you ask me...the cell industry in American is a big bunch of crap if you ask me...we are 12 steps behind the rest of the world in terms of technology. the fcc always has its noses up everyones ass which makes things even worse. **frustrated**

[ash @ May 23rd 2009 2:54AM]

...but that's only if we ask you.

Really, though, I completely agree with you. I don't know the FCC's effects on all of this other than the assignment of the frequency spectrum. Are they known to hold up phone releases much?

Now I'm asking you!

[Adderz @ May 23rd 2009 2:56AM]

From what ive heard and read your mobile companies are worse than Australias, and thats saying something!

[Jon Doe. @ May 23rd 2009 3:19AM]

we'll ignore the fact that these countries with superb coverage could fit into Montana and N/S Dakota. But hey. why let a little thing like facts stop you from a senseless rant. Please continue.

[Patriks7 @ May 23rd 2009 4:50AM]

Guys, don't worry. Only a couple more years till 2012. Then we will get a chance to start over! :x

[CL @ May 23rd 2009 5:43AM]

@Jon Doe.

Sure the small countries have their advantages, but let me remind you that 3G was first launched commercially in Japan in 2001. 8 years have passed, and I still can't get any coverage here in Louisiana other than Alltel. Other than a few spots near New Orleans, you won't find any 3G coverage from Sprint/Verizon/AT&T/T-Mo. It's the same story for many places in the US.

8 years is a long time, it only took us 8 years to land a man on the moon.

[John @ May 23rd 2009 9:39AM]

Once again, the US is BIG compared to any country that is completely covered by an up to date data network. The areas where there are lots of people get covered, then it trickles down to progressively smaller population centers. 8 years for the government to put a man on the moon, 8 years for companies to decide that it's not economically viable to invest millions in a sparsely populated area.

[Xoyuji @ May 23rd 2009 12:57PM]

@Jon Doe

I'll give you that; than whats the excuse for the places that are population centers in the country to not have the coverage of those smaller countries. Lets say a combined area of NYC, Boston, DC, ATL, LA, Chicago & Houston together those cities would make about the same size area or even less the area between NYC & DC thats about 400 miles and extend the area outward for about 15 miles each direction thats about the size of a small country why dont those areas have good service

[Alareth @ May 23rd 2009 1:19PM]

@CL

Of couse they haven't expanded in LA. What the hell would Nutria do with 3G anyway? ;)

I shudder to think what service would be like if I went back to Houma.

[Benson @ May 23rd 2009 11:41PM]

But Canada makes the US look good.

[seacow @ May 23rd 2009 2:48AM]

Thats an epic bot right there.

[ash @ May 23rd 2009 2:50AM]

What the hell...?

[digitallysick @ May 23rd 2009 3:17AM]

wtf I live near a major city and don't even 3G in the usa.....

[Templarian @ May 23rd 2009 9:14AM]

Think about living in the major city then.

[Jon Doe. @ May 23rd 2009 11:23AM]

Talk to your dipshit neighbors who probably subscribe to NIMBY. (Not in my back yard.) People want coverage. But god forbid they have an unsightly tower in the area. The city I live in, in Minnesota recently denied T Mobile's request to build a tower that would have filled a huge gaping hole in our town. All because there was an outcry about how it would affect property values. Why do so many American have to be so fracking retarded? Is it something in the water?

[myro255 @ May 23rd 2009 12:25PM]

you just accidentally the whole USA

[ManekiNeko @ May 23rd 2009 5:50PM]

No, we've just become a bunch of self-entitled pussies with no concept of true hardship. How many times have you heard Americans squeal "B-but this never happens in OUR town! This never happens to us!," as if tragedy was only something that happens to other, darker people? It gets pretty damn sickening. What makes you think you're so fantastic that you're immune to some pain and suffering in your life?

The problem with Americans is that we want everything and are willing to sacrifice nothing to get it. If we ever want to catch up to the other countries in this world economy, we're going to have to learn to live with the occasional inconvenience, rather than loudly complaining about it until it goes away and we can return to our safe little bubbles.

[Khalid Shahin @ May 23rd 2009 3:32AM]

400 million dorrars for only 20,000 people. What.