The average North Korean citizen is not allowed access to outside information. All news is provided to the people by state-run television, radio, and newspapers. There is no Internet access to average North Korean citizens. But North Korean trade officials living abroad have been able to use the Internet easily, looking up information and sending emails back to North Korean authorities at home.

However, the North Korean government has recently issued an order preventing trade officials abroad from using the Internet, apparently to stop them from sending “outside information” into the country. The trade officials, whose job it is to generate revenue for the government by trading in goods or services, have also been asked not to use emails to contact their parties back home, but instead to fax messages to them.

It appears that a key concern for the North Korean government is access by the North Korean trade officials to information on South Korea. These officials are primarily accessing South Korean sites due to the common Korean language.

It is believed that follow-up measures would be introduced, including the possible seizure of computers of those who defied the order.

Source: Radio Free Asia