The impact of mobile phones on reporting on North Korea

Dong-a Ilbo ran a story on the impact of mobile phones as far as gleaning information from North Korea.

In 1986, a South Korean daily reported that North Korea’s then leader Kim Il Sung died. Had it been true, the newspaper would have gotten a scoop. However, Kim Il Sung lived eight more years.

Mobile phones have since allowed South Korea’s media reports on North Korea to be more accurate. Recently mobile phones have played a critical role in letting the world know about the North’s H1N1 flu outbreak and currency revaluation.

The number of North Korean mobile phone subscribers to an Egyptian communications service will soon exceed 100,000.