A/HRC/25/CRP.1 • One witness spoke of having to memorize a script which was incomprehensible to her and other employees of a public facility which was expected to receive foreign officials inspecting the facility. As the Party secretary was expected to accompany the inspectors, everyone was fearful and practised the given script repeatedly so as not to make a mistake.194 • Another witness described having a friend who worked in the Propaganda department. His friend told him that when there were inter-Korean or other international meetings, the department would provide a script to be followed by participating DPRK officials. If someone diverted from the script, the meeting would be halted and that person would be reproached.195 210. The Commission learned that while it is possible for an individual to have a telephone installed in the DPRK, it is restricted and extremely expensive. Wiretapping of such telephones was also found to be “enforced in an effort to cut off and control the flow of information.”196 It was reported in mid-2013 that the only 3G mobile provider in the DPRK is now nearing 2 million subscribers (close to ten per cent of the population). Mobile phone usage was apparently rare before the North Korean mobile phone service, ‘Koryolink’, was launched in 2008. The service is now available in all major cities and along main roads and rail routes across the country. While the service includes voice calls and SMS, the government does not allow its citizens to make international calls or connect to the Internet. Foreigners and tourists visiting the country are allowed to use the Internet and international communication, but are barred from contacting most domestic telephone lines.197 Koryolink also reportedly sells a Chinese-made mobile phone with only basic functions.198 211. While around 2 million citizens are said have access to computers, they only have access to an intranet system that contains information filtered and determined by the government. Internet access is restricted to a limited few such as universities or some members of the elite.199 Computers must be registered with the authorities including those for official organizational use and home computers are not connected to the intranet system.200 212. Reportedly, following the execution in December 2013 of Kim Jong-un’s uncle, Jang Song-thaek, about 35,000 articles from the KCNA website and a further 20,000 items from the Rodong Sinmun website were removed.201 This appears to be part of the wider 194 195 196 197 198 199 200 201 58 TSH051. TSH052. KINU, White Paper on Human Rights in North Korea (2011), pp. 275-277. Orascom Telecom Holding (OTH) subsidiary Koryolink is operated through Cheo Technology, a joint venture between OTH and the North Korean Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications. OTH owns 75 per cent of the operation, with the DPRK government owning the rest. Koryolink launched its 3G coverage in Pyongyang in December 2008 with an initial 5,300 subscribers. “Orascom Telecom North Korean mobile subsidiary nears 2 million subscribers”, Daily News Egypt, 1 May 2013. Available from http://www.dailynewsegypt.com/2013/05/01/orascom-telecom-north-koreanmobile-subsidiary-nears-2-million-subscribers/. “North Korean Traders Scramble for Smartphones From South”, Radio Free Asia, 15 November 2013. Available from http://www.rfa.org/english/news/korea/smartphones-11142013185158.html. TAP009; National Human Rights Commission of Korea, Seoul Public Hearing, 22 August 2013, afternoon; KBA, 2012 White Paper on Human Rights in North Korea , p. 313 footnote 13. Intermedia, “A Quiet Opening: North Koreans in a Changing Media Environment”, pp. 57, 72. “In 1984 moment, N. Korea deletes near entirety of news archives”, NK News, 16 December 2013. Available from http://www.nknews.org/2013/12/in-1984-moment-n-korea-deletes-near-entirity-ofnews-archives/.