“They Made This?”… Foldable Phone That Opens Horizontally Spotted in North Korea

Foldable smartphone spotted in North Korea
Specific model name, performance and other details not disclosed

Foldable smartphones with screens that open horizontally have appeared in North Korea.

Foldable phone spotted in North Korea; camera and other features believed to be included

According to Yonhap News Agency on November 13, Choson Sinbo, the newspaper of the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan, reported on the 18th Pyongyang Autumn International Trade Fair, held at the Pyongyang Youth Central Hall from October 26 to 30, and introduced various electronic products exhibited by North Korean companies.

Photographs released from the event showed a foldable smartphone with a screen that opens horizontally. Icons for a calendar, clock, camera and music player were visible on the phone’s screen, as were icons that appeared to indicate QR code recognition and voice search functions. However, the product’s specific model name, screen size and performance were not disclosed.

Choson Sinbo described Pureun Haneul Trading Company, which appears to have exhibited the product, as “a well-known domestic company that produces intelligent mobile phones (smartphones), digital TVs and all-in-one computers.” In an interview, Ri Song-i, a staff member at Pureun Haneul Trading Company, said, “We are currently focusing our efforts on developing AI-powered products, and we will definitely introduce a new product at the next trade fair.”

Choson Sinbo reported that the company had been selected several times as one of the “Top 10 Best Information Technology Companies,” and that smartphones bearing the Pureun Haneul brand, including the “Pureun Haneul 9-3,” are popular among North Korean residents.

Foldable phone also spotted on table in front of Kim Jong Un in 2023

This is not the first time a foldable phone has appeared in North Korean media. In July 2023, a foldable phone that opened vertically was spotted on a table when Chairman of the State Affairs Commission Kim Jong Un observed the test launch of the Hwasong-18 intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). Images have also shown Kim Yo Jong, the North Korean leader’s younger sister and a deputy department director of the Workers’ Party of Korea, using a foldable phone believed to be from the “Magic” series by Chinese smartphone manufacturer Honor.

North Korea emphasizes its technological capabilities, saying it has factories capable of producing hundreds of thousands of mobile phones annually. However, questions remain about the country’s ability to independently develop and manufacture them.

According to the report “North Korea’s Smartphones in 2024,” published by Martin Williams, a researcher at the U.S. think tank the Stimson Center, many smartphones sold in North Korea are supplied by Chinese companies through original equipment manufacturing (OEM) arrangements. In July, Williams also analyzed that the appearance and key specifications of the “Pureun Haneul 9-3,” sold by Pureun Haneul Trading Company, matched those of the “Agni 3,” launched by Indian consumer electronics company Lava.

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