For decades, North Korea has kept all external influence at a distance, but perhaps nothing encapsulates that isolation as well as two ultra-rare smartphones that YouTuber @Mrwhosetheboss revealed. The Han 701 is a budget device and the Sam Tes 8 is North Korea’s flagship model, making their way into his hands through rare smuggling efforts. These phones are not just a showcase of technology but reveal a digital ecosystem built for control, surveillance, and propaganda.
The Han 701 is such a mystery device that Googling its name won’t yield a single result. The Sam Tes 8 has a name clearly designed to rival South Korea’s Samsung, but it becomes clear just how North Korea feels about its Southern neighbor the moment you start pecking away at these devices’ keyboards. Type “Namhan,” which is a term for South Korea, and the phone immediately autocorrects it to “puppet state.” Type “Republic of Korea,” and the phone replaces it with a line of asterisks, deleting the phrase altogether.
North Korea pushes its narrative even harder on the newer Sam Tes 8. While the Han 701 still lets you type “North Korea,” the Sam Tes 8 blocks the term entirely, forcing you to use “Joseon,” the ancient name for Korea. It also renames South Korea to “South Joseon,” implying the South belongs to the North.
The phones aggressively enforce loyalty. When you type Kim Jong-un, the device immediately bolds his name. The phone replaces modern South Korean slang with state-approved vocabulary. Even harmless words like “oppa”—a casual South Korean term—bring up a warning. It corrects it to “comrade” and warns you to use the term only to refer to siblings. No modern smartphone in the world censors language with this level of control.
The most striking limitation shows up when you attempt to go online. The Han 701 shows a Wi-Fi button, but nothing happens when you touch it. The Sam Tes 8 does away with the icon for Wi-Fi altogether, so that users wouldn’t be expecting that feature. Both phones force you onto Mirae, a government-approved intranet that requires your ID, a government-approved SIM and complete traceability. Mirae doesn’t access the global internet; it loads only state-approved North Korean apps, news, and propaganda.
Even basic performance on these phones feels outdated. North Korea released the Sam Tes 8 in 2023 for nearly $1,000—but the device resembles a mid-range Huawei phone from 2021. Its design, camera layout and even certain interface icons look directly lifted from Huawei. The watermark on its photos asks users to “contact Hinatron,” a small Chinese supplier, suggesting North Korea sourced components from multiple Chinese vendors and stitched the phone together.
The cameras are low quality. Software updates are non-existent. The Han 701 still runs on Android 10, while the Sam Tes 8 is still stuck on Android 11, meaning both phones are years behind modern versions of the software.
The phones come packed with dozens of apps because North Koreans can’t freely download new ones. When users do manage to download apps, they have to visit a government store to activate them. Every app also expires and demands renewal fees-even apps that contain national laws. Considering North Korea’s economic struggles, this turns app usage into a luxury most citizens cannot afford.
But buried deep in the phone, North Korea’s strongest control mechanism is at work: Red Flag. It tracks every file, every app, every action. It digitally signs all approved files with a government signature and wipes those that come from elsewhere. If users try to sideload apps or get around restrictions, the phone instantly erases files that aren’t authorized. Trying to circumvent Red Flag is extremely risky in a country where watching South Korean videos might land you in prison or even cost you your life.
The phones also take silent screenshots several times a day. The user can view thumbnails of the screenshots, but is unable to open or remove them. No one knows whether the screenshots automatically upload or remain stored for inspections. The message is clear, however: officials can review everything you do.
Even the apps reveal the government’s reach: Many icons mimic global brands like Microsoft, Google Maps, NBC and even Amazon Prime. Videos include pirated international content with new North Korean titles and logos slapped over them. The phones’ game library includes a football game showing Messi but removing South Korean star Son Heung-min altogether in an intentional erasure to avoid North Koreans recognizing South Korean success.
The intranet carries not only Russian movies, reflecting North Korea’s alliance with Russia, but also a surprisingly large number of Indian films. Analysts believe Indian media feels glamorous to North Koreans but does not threaten state ideology the way Western or South Korean content does.
Government-directed apps dominate the ecosystem, from users browsing leader biographies, state-approved cooking guides and ideological lessons to even a “common sense” app explaining laws, family structures and moral rules. Most of the apps open with quotes from Kim Jong-un or past leaders, turning every load screen into a propaganda display.
Despite all these controls, the phones still offer dozens of offline games, many displaying sometimes unexpected international branding like Delta Airlines. Offline play is critical because North Koreans can’t access a real internet connection. Ultimately, these phones show how North Korea transforms the smartphone—arguably the world’s greatest tool for freedom—into a digital cage. From the words citizens can type to the movies they can watch, every part of this ecosystem pushes one message: North Korea is superior. Outside influence is dangerous. And the government monitors everything. Thanks to the work of @Mrwhosetheboss, the world gets its rare and chilling glimpse into North Korea’s hidden digital life. His investigation lays bare how very tightly controlled information, thought, and communication are by the state—and reminds us how much freedom the rest of the world often takes for granted.
Siddharth is a Kochi-based mechanical engineer with a lifelong fascination for cars. His weekend passion involves analyzing new engines, driving technologies, and India’s growing electric car market. He brings technical depth with everyday readability.