Korea Computer Center
The Korea Computer Center (KCC) is the North Korean government information technology research center. It was founded on 24 October 1990.[1] KCC, which administers the .kp country code top-level domain, employs more than 1,000 people.[2]
Korea Computer Center | |
Korean name | |
---|---|
Chosŏn'gŭl | 조선콤퓨터중심 |
Hancha | 朝鮮콤퓨터中心 |
Revised Romanization | Joseon Kompyuteo Jungsim |
McCune–Reischauer | Chosŏn K'omp'yut'ŏ Ssent'ŏ |
KCC operates eight development and production centers, as well as eleven regional information centers. It runs the KCC Information Technology College and its Information Technology Institute. The KCC has branch offices in China, Germany, Syria and the United Arab Emirates. It has an interest in Linux research, and started the development of the Red Star OS distribution localised for North Korea.[1]
KCC is a part of the political establishment and not entirely an IT company per se. Its technological state and general modernity are seen as lagging well behind the rest of the world, even with the general zeitgeist in North Korea. For example, the .kp ccTLD was registered in 2007, but KCC did not manage to get a working registry for three years, despite the support of a European company. KCC has still not implemented a working ccTLD infrastructure, something the North Korean government has had as a goal for several years.
While KCC mainly works on projects within North Korea, it has since 2001 served clients in Europe, China, South Korea, Japan, and the Middle East.[3][4] It operates Naenara, North Korea's official web portal.
Nosotek is another North Korean IT venture company that develops computer games; two of them were published by News Corporation.[5] Another such company is the Pyongyang Information Center.[6]
Products
- Search engine "sam heug"[1]
- Korea web browser "Naenara"[1]
- Korea game play program "The Chosun Jang-Gi"[1]
- Korea national program "Kwangmyong"[1]
- Korea food study program "The Chosun Ryo-Li"[1]
- Korean language input method editor "Hana"[1]
- "Koryo", English-Korean/Korean-English translation software using an electronic pen[1]
- Korean language Voice Recognition Software "Nunbora"[1]
- Linux Distribution (Korean Edition) "Pulgunbyol" (Red Star OS)[1]
- "Cyber Friend", Video Conference System[1]
- "Cyber Star", Distance Education System[1]
- Computer Go Software "SilverStar Paduk"[1]
- Computer software "HMS Player"[1]
- Samjiyon tablet[7][8]
References
- "Korea Computer Center". Naenara. Archived from the original on 2014-12-31. Retrieved 2015-10-19.
- "Laos signs software deal with North Korea". Investvine.com. 2013-03-16. Retrieved 2013-03-17.
- Paul Tjia (18 November 2011). "North Korea: An Up-and-Coming IT-Outsourcing Destination". 38 North, School of Advanced International Studies. Johns Hopkins University. Retrieved 18 November 2011.
- Lee, Jean H. (25 July 2011). "North Korea's 'Digital Revolution' Under Way". AP. Huffingtom Post. Retrieved 8 August 2011.
- Campbell, Matthew; Bomi Lim (2010-09-08). "Kim Bowled for Murdoch's Dollars With Korean Games". Bloomberg. Retrieved 2010-09-13.
- Will Scott (29 December 2014). "Computer Science in the DPRK [31c3]". YouTube. Chaos Computer Club. Retrieved 23 February 2015.
- Heads Up Android Fans: Here Comes North Korea, Wall Street Journal, 27 Sept 2012. Retrieved Nov 2012.
- Samjiyon Android tablet debuts at Pyongyang trade fair, North Korea Tech, 28 Sept 2012. Retrieved Nov 2012.