North Korea

Internet
January 20, 2013
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Google Chairman North Korea

Google chairman addresses the state of North Korean technology, Internet policy

By on January 20, 2013 at 10:24 AM.

Google chairman addresses the state of North Korean technology, Internet policy

Google (GOOG) chairman Eric Schmidt is back from his adventure in North Korea and he’s penned a post on his Google+ page detailing the current state of the country’s technological capabilities and the way it allows citizens to have limited access to the Internet. In short, North Korea isn’t anywhere close to matching the technological capabilities of its rival South Korea, and the country is incredibly restrictive of the information it allows its citizens to access. More →

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Internet
January 9, 2013
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Google Chairman North Korea

Google chairman to North Korea: Tear down this firewall

By on January 9, 2013 at 6:36 PM.

Google chairman to North Korea: Tear down this firewall

Google (GOOG) chairman Eric Schmidt isn’t just going to North Korea to play its hot new Crazy Taxi-like video game — he’s also apparently there to promote Internet freedom. The Associated Press, via CBS News, reports that Schmidt was part of “a private delegation” that is “urging North Korea to allow more open Internet access and cellphones to benefit its citizens.” Former New Mexico governor Bill Richardson, who accompanied Schmidt on his trip to North Korea this week, told the AP that he has told “a variety of foreign policy officials” in the country that “the citizens of the DPRK (North Korea) will be better off with more cellphones and an active Internet.” While a more open web in North Korea would certainly be welcome, we wouldn’t hold our breath for it to happen since North Korea has a well-earned reputation as one of the most restrictive and reclusive countries in the world.

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Legal
January 3, 2013
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Google Chairman North Korea

U.S. State Department knocks Google chairman’s planned North Korea trip

By on January 3, 2013 at 10:50 PM.

U.S. State Department knocks Google chairman’s planned North Korea trip

The United States State Department is not amused by Google (GOOG) chairman Eric Schmidt’s plan to travel to North Korea. Even though Schmidt plans to go to North Korea with former New Mexico governor Bill Richardson as a private citizen and not a representative of the U.S. government, a State Department spokesperson on Thursday said that the timing of the trip wasn’t “helpful,” according to Reuters. The State Department has made its views known to both Schmidt and Richardson, although apparently neither has decided that Foggy Bottom’s concerns warrant canceling their travel plans yet.

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Gaming
December 20, 2012
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North Korea Driving Game

North Korea’s first video game: A boring version of ‘Crazy Taxi’ that nitpicks your bad driving

By on December 20, 2012 at 11:59 PM.

North Korea’s first video game: A boring version of ‘Crazy Taxi’ that nitpicks your bad driving

In theory, a driving game set in North Korea could be fun — it could revolve around delivering kidnapped movie stars from the airport to Dear Leader’s headquarters, for instance. In reality, though, it looks as though playing a driving game set in North Korea is about as much fun as actually living in North Korea. Business Insider’s Gus Lubin has posted his first impressions of “Welcome to Pyongyang,” an online game that’s “produced by Nosotek, a western IT company based in North Korea,” and he’s found that it’s pretty lame. More →

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