While a South Korean art troupe composed of K-pop acts including Red Velvet and Seohyun was staying in North Korea for three days, South Korean journalists were granted internet access by their hosts. (Image: Yonhap)
PYONGYANG-SEOUL, April 6 (Korea Bizwire) – While a South Korean art troupe composed of artists including Red Velvet and Seohyun was in North Korea to take part in a North-South Korean concert, accompanying South Korean journalists were granted internet access by their hosts.
Staying at the Koryo Hotel in Pyongyang, ten internet connections were provided to the media room. By all accounts, surfing the web in North Korea was no different than doing likewise in the South; American websites like Google were able to be visited with no trouble.
Members of Red Velvet checking out North Korea’s internet. (Image: Yonhap)
South Korean government officials traveling with the troupe were also given cellphones upon request. Reportedly, the phones resembled older iPhone models and had “Pyongyang” written in Korean on the backside. Officials, performers and members of the press did not take their personal phones with them on their visit to Pyongyang.
It is extremely rare for North Korea to permit South Korean journalists to bring laptops and cameras and to provide internet access, which indicates the increased goodwill between Seoul and Pyongyang.
Reportedly, the phones resembled older iPhone models and had “Pyongyang” written in Korean on the backside. (Image: Yonhap)
Kevin Lee (kevinlee@koreabizwire.com)
