North Koreans will now have access to Google Maps through the web and mobile apps.
While users will be able to calculate travel time by car or foot, only a limited number of maps have been made available.
“While the system appears to have data about many of the major roads in North Korea, it doesn’t contain any information about border crossings,” Norkthkoreatech.org reported. “Asking for routes to both Seoul and Bejing resulted in failure.”
The site, which was started by a former DG News Service employee, is dedicated to “covering and collecting information regarding the state of information technology” in North Korea.
Technology website 9 to 5 Google reported that application will probably be made available to only the country’s “visitors” and “privileged” citizens.
Northkoreatech.org also drew attention to the nation’s human rights record, mapping out an escape plan from the country’s Yodok concentration camp. The website noted that “walking along a major road for 81 hours [to the Chinese border] probably isn’t the best way to avoid getting caught.”
• Douglas Ernst can be reached at dernst@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.