Kim Jong-un’s hip, young reign over North Korea continues today as mobile operator Koryolink officially turns on its data services, opening the gate to social apps like Instagram, Foursquare and Twitter.
In true North Korean style, however, only foreigners will be able to access the network, leaving locals to continue sepia-toning their weekly meal in their heads for the time being. But this is a major step forward for the notoriously internet-restrictive country, and this may or may not (but probably not) be due in part to a recent visit by Google CEO Eric Schmidt over this very topic.
Jean H. Lee, head of the Associated Press bureau in North Korea, sent out the country’s first tweet that we’re aware of (there may have been others) from a mobile device.
My first tweet using #Koryolink‘s new mobile #Internet service. Hello world from comms center in #Pyongyang.
— Jean H. Lee (@newsjean) February 25, 2013
The image at the top soon followed as the (also potential) first ever Instagram of North Korea, which Lee described as a sign “welcoming nuclear test scientists”. And a beautiful welcome it is. Whether the gloomy filter is the work of “Earlybird” or the country’s collective, crippling sadness, however, is yet to be determined. [@newsjean via The Next Web]