Fearful of Becoming Next Egypt, North Korea Confiscates Mobile Phones

Minyanville ^ | 05/02/11 | Justin Rohrlich

[TigerLikesRooster]

Fearful of Becoming Next Egypt, North Korea Confiscates Mobile Phones

By Justin Rohrlich

May 2, 2011 01:51 PM

Not long ago, Naguib Sawiris, the CEO of Orascom -- which trades on the Cairo & Alexandria Stock Exchange under the symbol ORTE, and on the London Stock Exchange under the symbol OTL -- explained, in so many words, that Orascom was intrigued by what could be considered the most emerging of emerging markets.

"We are always examining the countries that don't have service and always pushing to get in," Sawiris said. "This was one that didn't have coverage and we met the embassy here, got in touch with authorities and here we are."

That’s the “how.” The “why?”

"This is not just about providing 3G mobile services; we are making history in a country that is developing and opening up in a remarkable way," he said.

However, “opening up” can be interpreted in many different ways. Though the network was constructed by Orascom, Sawiris accepted that all communications would nevertheless be strictly controlled and monitored by authorities.

"That's the right of the government," Sawiris said.

This control means North Koreans are unable to connect with anyone outside the country -- except for those able to secure an unrestricted phone smuggled in from China and are close enough to the border to access Chinese networks. However, being caught communicating with the outside world can also lead to severe consequences. Like public execution by firing squad.

Just a few weeks ago, Vice Unification Minister Um Jong-Sik told a forum in Seoul that “After watching the spread of pro-democracy movements in the Middle East, North Korea is expected to strengthen its control further over any elements endangering its system."

[TigerLikesRooster]

P!

[muir_redwoods]

Sigh, if ever a people needed a second amendment and the will and the means to use it, it’s the people of North Korea. They need to rise in revolt and destroy the Kim-Clown-Clan

[Oshkalaboomboom]

North Koreans are too weak to fight back. The only ones who aren’t starving are the soldiers loyal to the regime.

[240B]

There is a famous photo of a NK soldier greeting a SK soldier and the NK guy was about a foot taller.

There is so little food in NK, the people are actually stunted. A bowl of rice a day and a fish (if that), doesn't build a Kansas farmboy.

[AmericanInTokyo]

Dont be fooled. They have enough energy and anger to rip to shread with their bare hands, their Communist overlords once somebody does the deed at the top (off the Kim Dynasty and the inner circle and seize the country’s communications).
This latest with Osama bin Ladin has put EXTREME fear into them. There will be clever ways around their crackdowns, though. I suggest smuggling in various items to foment a legitimate underground resistance, and other black operations to destabilize the KWP inner circle. Probably no better time than now. We would probably have to wait until a President Palin or President Bolton, though, to get it rolling in full force.