Chinese language-made MP8 media gamers are gaining reputation amongst North Korean youth, coming into the nation in small portions by means of border areas regardless of restrictions.
In accordance with a Every day NK supply in North Korea just lately, the MP8 has develop into common amongst North Korean youngsters and college college students as an “all-in-one” multimedia machine that goes past easy music and video playback to incorporate audiobooks, e-books, and doc viewing capabilities.
Regardless of its compact measurement, the machine has a modern design with high quality ending that makes it appear to be a premium digital machine. It additionally options an intuitive person interface that considerably enhances comfort, stimulating younger folks’s want to buy it.
New and used models are coming into North Korea in small portions from cities close to the North Korean border, akin to Dandong in Liaoning province and Hunchun in Jilin province, and are presently being traded secretly at costs starting from $80 to $150.
The supply instructed Every day NK, “Dad and mom purchase MP8s for his or her kids after they say they’ll use them for learning. Because the authorities focuses extra on the content material quite than the machine itself, college students can carry them round with out a lot concern so long as they’ve a transparent justification that it’s for instructional functions.”
One motive for the machine’s reputation is its benefit in avoiding censorship and crackdowns. Since Chinese language corporations manufacture it particularly for North Korean shoppers, it poses no issues as a result of options like FM radio and Wi-Fi are both excluded or disabled.
The supply stated, “College students carry separate SD playing cards for learning and for leisure,” including, “The MP8 is formally an academic machine, however it’s primarily used for watching films and listening to music.
“Initially, they could watch Chinese language language studying or math problem-solving content material, however with a easy card swap, they will additionally watch films or TV sequence and take heed to music,” the supply continued, including: “The machine itself is small and easy, so even when caught, it’s simple to rapidly exchange or disguise the SD card.”
Unfold of gadgets a possible menace to regime
The unfold of the gadgets in North Korea could also be a part of China’s content material growth technique. As gadgets from MP3 and MP4 to MP7 and now MP8 have entered North Korea, they’re turning into a way for Chinese language cultural content material to penetrate by means of “gadgets custom-made for North Korean residents.”
Nevertheless, because the MP8 can simply play South Korean films, dramas, and Okay-pop content material, the rising demand for these gadgets presents one other problem for North Korean authorities searching for to regulate and block exterior content material.
For North Korean authorities, they have to be cautious of the likelihood that MP8s, which entered beneath the guise of “innocent” instructional gadgets, might remodel into channels for exterior cultural infiltration.
For China, the state of affairs the place instruments meant for spreading their very own tradition are getting used as platforms for consuming Korean cultural content material can’t be welcome.
The supply stated, “It’s a tool made in China, however the result’s that our younger folks may have extra publicity to Korean films and Korean songs.” He added, “However there’s no correct technique to cease folks from utilizing MP8s, so it’s a state of affairs that’s irritating for these tasked with imposing laws.”
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