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I'm wondering how many people near the border have access to computers that can read those DVDs and USB drives? The article did mention that “DVDs, USBs, and e

by riobard 13y ago

I'm wondering how many people near the border have access to computers that can read those DVDs and USB drives? The article did mention that “DVDs, USBs, and even laptops are making their way over the Chinese border into the hands of North Koreans”, but there wasn't any estimation of how many people actually have access to those, and of those who do, how many belong to the ruling class?

tptacek 13y ago
The PBS Frontline episode from yesterday makes it seem as if thumb-drive video playing computers are common (perhaps only among the upper class, though) in NK.
- ekianjo 13y ago
  In a country where you can't even get reliable food supply and where you suffer from frequent black-outs, let me doubt about that.
  - phaer 13y ago
    I would say one time supply of cheap(!) video game equipment is far easier to finance and organize than a reliable distribution of food and electricity for almost 25M people, so i doubt that argument. And I would be anything but surprised if only 1 million or less people would have access to those machines, but my guess would be that a political chance depends more on (semi)-privileged people like those in Pyongyang than on the population of the country side which has even less possibilities of resistance and reform.
    - XorNot 13y ago
      Well it's not like this is a personal tech revolution. These devices are going to financed and shared out amongst whole communities.
  - bane 13y ago
    http://newfocusintl.com/north-korea-mostcoveted-items/ http://newfocusintl.com/north-korea-mostcoveted-items/ This is thanks to Chinese businessmen, who produce items according to the needs of the North Korean market. For about US$20, North Koreans may purchase a Chinese-made portable DVD player. In the past, a DVD was required; but now, people can watch movies off of a USB stick. This makes it even easier to conceal the set-up from the authorities, and is a perfect fit for ordinary North Koreans.

by riobard 13y ago

tptacek 13y ago

The PBS Frontline episode from yesterday makes it seem as if thumb-drive video playing computers are common (perhaps only among the upper class, though) in NK.

ekianjo 13y ago
In a country where you can't even get reliable food supply and where you suffer from frequent black-outs, let me doubt about that.
- phaer 13y ago
  I would say one time supply of cheap(!) video game equipment is far easier to finance and organize than a reliable distribution of food and electricity for almost 25M people, so i doubt that argument. And I would be anything but surprised if only 1 million or less people would have access to those machines, but my guess would be that a political chance depends more on (semi)-privileged people like those in Pyongyang than on the population of the country side which has even less possibilities of resistance and reform.
  - XorNot 13y ago
    Well it's not like this is a personal tech revolution. These devices are going to financed and shared out amongst whole communities.
- bane 13y ago
  http://newfocusintl.com/north-korea-mostcoveted-items/ http://newfocusintl.com/north-korea-mostcoveted-items/ This is thanks to Chinese businessmen, who produce items according to the needs of the North Korean market. For about US$20, North Koreans may purchase a Chinese-made portable DVD player. In the past, a DVD was required; but now, people can watch movies off of a USB stick. This makes it even easier to conceal the set-up from the authorities, and is a perfect fit for ordinary North Koreans.