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North Korea’s notoriously limited internet access faced a rare, near-total shutdown on Saturday, sparking fresh scrutiny over what triggered the disruption. According to a UK-based cybersecurity researcher, the outage is likely the result of an internal failure, not a coordinated external attack — a notable development in one of the most isolated digital ecosystems in the world.
Major Outage Hits All Routes Into North Korea
The incident was first reported Saturday morning by Junade Ali, a UK-based researcher who monitors North Korea’s digital infrastructure. Ali said all known internet routes into the country — whether through China or Russia — went dark around the same time.
“A major outage is currently occurring on North Korea’s internet — affecting all routes whether they come in via China or Russia,” Ali told Reuters. He added that North Korea’s internet infrastructure had entirely vanished from systems typically used to monitor global web traffic.
What’s unusual is not just the blackout itself, but how total it is. North Korea’s internet is already minimal, with access restricted to government agencies, state media, and a few elite individuals. But this appears to be a full system-wide disruption.
Ali noted it was “hard to say if this is intentional or accidental,” but the indicators point toward an internal issue rather than a cyberattack from outside the country.
Not North Korea’s First Web Blackout — But Still Rare
Complete digital silence is unusual even by North Korea’s tightly controlled standards. The country’s online presence runs through a small number of IP ranges managed by Chinese telecom giant China Unicom and, more recently, Russian firm TransTeleCom. That said, simultaneous blackouts across both routes are rare.
While the regime frequently makes global headlines for its cyber capabilities — from high-profile ransomware attacks to cryptocurrency heists — it is far less often on the receiving end of such disruptions. And when it is, Pyongyang typically accuses the US or South Korea within hours. This time, there’s been no official reaction.
A Tense Week: Warship Relaunch and Border Crossings
The outage comes at a particularly sensitive moment for North Korea. Just a day earlier, state media confirmed the second launch of a 5,000-tonne destroyer that had failed during its initial rollout in May. According to KCNA, the warship has been restored and is undergoing inspections at the Rajin Dockyard, with a full restoration expected before an upcoming Workers’ Party meeting.
Leader Kim Jong Un, who personally witnessed the ship’s failed debut, had reportedly blamed “carelessness” and demanded the vessel be ready in time for the high-level gathering. The urgency underscores the regime’s focus on projecting strength, especially after a public embarrassment.
Meanwhile, on the southern maritime border, a small wooden boat carrying four North Koreans drifted into South Korean waters last month. Discovered around 100 km east of Gangwon province, the individuals were taken in by the South Korean military and are now in the custody of intelligence officials. Interestingly, all four have reportedly requested to return home — a rare reversal in defection narratives that has left analysts puzzled.
What Could Have Caused the Blackout?
Given the tightly woven control the regime holds over its digital systems, several scenarios are possible. A misconfigured update, infrastructure maintenance gone wrong, or even deliberate blackout ahead of political events — any could fit the bill. Some experts also speculate on internal purges or security drills as reasons for the silence.
But without confirmation from Pyongyang, the true cause remains opaque. South Korea’s police cyber terror response centre — which tracks North Korean digital activities — was unreachable for comment, according to Reuters.
Final Word
For a country that weaponises its digital capabilities abroad, an internal internet failure is ironically revealing. Whether due to technical failure, political maneuvering, or cyber caution ahead of upcoming domestic events, the blackout highlights just how fragile even North Korea’s hardened systems can be.
As of late Saturday, the country’s internet infrastructure remained offline, with no signs of restoration or explanation. For outside observers, this digital blackout may be one of the few moments where North Korea says nothing — and it means everything.
Credit: Mint
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