# See what it’s like to use a North Korean smartphone under Kim Jong Un

> **Open Intelligence Dossier** · First detected: 2026-07-27 02:07 UTC · Category: Business

## Executive Summary
New reports provide a rare glimpse into the digital and socioeconomic realities of daily life in North Korea under the leadership of Kim Jong Un.

## Intelligence Brief
Recent coverage examines the intersection of technology and daily survival within North Korea. The Washington Post focuses specifically on the user experience of smartphones under the administration of Kim Jong Un, offering a look at how mobile technology functions in one of the world's most restricted environments. This digital exploration is paired with reports on the physical realities of the capital, Pyongyang, which Maeil Business Newspaper (매일경제) describes as being part of the most closed country in the world. These reports collectively aim to illustrate the lived experience of citizens navigating a highly controlled state. Multiple outlets are detailing the economic contradictions of the region. NK News features insights from Rudiger Frank regarding the existence of a hidden middle class, while DailyNK reports that North Korean households are fed by markets rather than by official wages.


This indicates a shift toward informal economic structures. Additionally, Inquirer.net highlights the scarcity of authentic goods, noting the production of coffee-less coffee and chocolates that contain no cocoa, signaling a gap between the desired lifestyle and the actual availability of imported ingredients within the country. Understanding these trends requires context on the North Korean state's control over information and resources. The contrast between the official state wage system and the reliance on private markets mentioned by DailyNK suggests a fragmented economy. The emergence of a hidden middle class, as analyzed by Rudiger Frank in NK News, implies a layer of society that possesses more resources than the average citizen despite the restrictive environment. The use of smartphones, as detailed by The Washington Post, represents a modern tool operating under the strict surveillance and limitations imposed by the government of Kim Jong Un.


Future observations will likely center on how these internal market dynamics and technological adoptions evolve. Coverage from Maeil Business Newspaper will continue to track the daily life of those residing in Pyongyang to see if accessibility changes. Observers will be watching for further evidence of the hidden middle class and the continuing viability of market-based survival over state-issued wages. The continued reporting on synthetic food products, such as the cocoa-free chocolates mentioned by Inquirer.net, will serve as a metric for the state's ability to provide or substitute luxury goods for its population.

## Multi-Source Evidence Table
| Source Outlet | Headline | Verification URL |
|---|---|---|
| Inquirer.net | North Korea’s coffee-less coffee and chocolates without cocoa | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiowFBVV95cUxPZW91Wng3MElOamwxdHAtS05KcXcwTWVZVFhJSjQweFJlVVJkM19DVXgtY2NGb19iT0x5a0pQb0lrZXZ2NmZSVGNtMW51SGEwOTM5V3BQQ2g0X19jalZOUUNCOGc2ZHFLRXVsOGVtcDczbEtHQnhKYW9abFFwd2Q0UF85ZW1ERDdNdThzMm5pR3BvQmVieUpwZnhoVUZaV3lweE5N0gGoAUFVX3lxTE10U0UwalVyMlQ5aFFrendDTUZnVDNCSzF6YktESk52akJRUXdNeVdUclBhdWJjb29OcndtRlpCdVJqQkprazlvZnF0RHVkNlU2dDdpc25TRW54Y3Zfb2M2MzBnWVBMbmlUWjFyc2JvX2lTb3JtTkJZYjQ0UHRVUTQ4NXY0cU5VYkx1Y1BiTUllNFBDY1F1VTZFWlFGNWxoRExRdWFBY2NBTg?oc=5) |
| NK News | Rudiger Frank on North Korea’s hidden middle class: North Korea Unpacked | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMipAFBVV95cUxQM21oY1BTMUk4RV9Xak9GM2ZaOXlWTnFiSDY1MkFtWlZReE5nYkxxS0E4SVhwWk5DYWZUNWpKMktlV3REUUlHMXZMVjlCS05OeUpYNnNQYllTOS1LR3F5ckVGN1JfN043MWVJcWtQWVRiSkRFekNrN0RfZ2xJaVpVZWs5OGdzYi1ONWw3RmNCS2NSc0RtWnkxc2Y0ZFZob2xhTGM3cQ?oc=5) |
| DailyNK | Markets, not wages, feed North Korean households | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiiAFBVV95cUxNNk9fcFVrTG5sR0ZFc2x4d00xVGY1NV9vblZ0b2tUZ0JKb3FqNjVKaEw1ZTVWVHY0Y1BJSDc1cEJSUUFhWUFTTEFPeGlPb0kxTlVzYUF5eENnY3Q3cHl3aXlXVDhiNlBCWDBsQnNiaGlmOFBvYkIxVnRSMU1wQkI0U1hxaGtBTzA3?oc=5) |
| 매일경제 | The daily life of Pyongyang, the capital of North Korea, which is considered the most closed country.. | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiT0FVX3lxTE9EcklBZVp3eGRnWU1xMnVGaEJ3X0FCMlV2MXpQQ0luQ3dIM0gxbDlfdDlEYU1rZ3lPWlA5M0pId2FoUk5JSjNSVVNHRHRhT1U?oc=5) |
| The Washington Post | See what it’s like to use a North Korean smartphone under Kim Jong Un | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMisgFBVV95cUxQdjJxNk4xV2RyVEcyM2xoQkVncUd2Wm5IZkpOY0RkLUJqNUZRaElCNzdiamhyS1J1aldnRHNHQV94TlpKUUJJbDZ0VERFUEJoLVZOUVFGcGtTcXZqQmxkWXR1TUtWTXJRT0F0dVNCaUl2MXphUE9FWmczc0kzSmF5Q042bXlURVdqOGZtM21DOHl4NWtIU2FJaFhZa1lJWEFfd0F4WUZtbDdDSlU2NkMyY1ZB?oc=5) |

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*Canonical Source: https://pulse.byoviral.com/trend/2026-07-27/see-what-it-s-like-to-use-a-north-korean-smartphone-under-kim-jong-un*