Seoul [South Korea], December 15: A photograph published by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on December 14 shows Kim Yo-jong, the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, holding a smartphone in her hand.
Although the manufacturer is not clearly visible, many believe the smartphone in question belongs to the Magic series of the Chinese brand Honor, touted as the "world's thinnest foldable phone," according to The Chosun Daily on December 15th.
It is also possible that the smartphone was manufactured in North Korea . Previously, the Choson Sinbo , the mouthpiece of the Association of Korean Residents in Japan, which represents Pyongyang's position, reported that North Korea manufactures smartphones under its own brand.
However, according to a report titled "North Korean Smartphones in 2024" by researcher Martyn Williams of the Stimson Center (USA), all smartphones sold in North Korea are manufactured by Chinese companies.
This isn't the first time a flip phone has appeared in photos of high-ranking North Korean officials. In July 2023, a flip phone that could be folded vertically and horizontally was placed on a table in front of Kim Jong-un as he observed the test launch of the Hwasong-18 intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). The manufacturer or features of that phone were not identified, according to Yonhap.
Additionally, in October 2024, North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui was seen holding a black flip phone.
If the aforementioned flip phones were imported from China, this could violate UN sanctions against North Korea, according to The Chosun Daily . UN Security Council Resolution 2397 prohibits the export and import of electronic equipment to and from North Korea.
In 2024, the North Korean delegation participating in the Paris Olympics also did not receive the "Galaxy Z Flip6" smartphone, which was specially manufactured by Samsung Electronics, the official sponsor of the Olympics, according to The Chosun Daily .
There is currently no information on North Korea's reaction to the latest news from The Chosun Daily .
Source: Thanh Nien Newspaper
