A Chinese-made portable media player called the MP7 has recently become a hot commodity among North Korean young people and university students, Daily NK has learned.
A North Korean source told Daily NK recently that the MP7 first arrived in Nampo through state-condoned smuggling in February or March and has steadily spread in the capital city of Pyongyang. The MP7, which is marketed as a “learning device,” is selling briskly for an average of $70-130, with parents often buying it for their children.
The MP7’s upgraded features appear to be behind the high demand in the market. The MP7’s five-inch screen is bigger than previous models (the MP5 and MP6), touchscreen sensitivity has improved, and major strides have been made in storage space and sound quality.
The MP7 also includes a variety of learning materials, including foreign language conversation practice, vocabulary lists, and a North Korean-Chinese dictionary. Thanks to those features, the device is gaining a reputation as “the newest learning tool for becoming a skilled diplomat.”
“The MP7’s improved functionality seems to be more than mere product evolution. There’s some degree of strategic intentionality given China’s finger on the pulse of upper-class youth [in North Korea] and their enthusiasm about foreign languages,” the source said.
The MP7 reportedly often ships with a memory card containing Chinese media files in compressed format, giving students and other young users a smooth introduction to Chinese culture. The Chinese media on the memory cards tends to be easily digestible popular culture content such as love stories, comedies and competition shows.
As it happens, Chinese media has recently captured the attention of North Korean young people. Chinese media is easier to come by than South Korean media, while being comparable in production values and considerably less risky from a legal standpoint.
Since anybody caught watching South Korean media faces serious consequences, including banishment to the countryside, Chinese media is regarded as a safe alternative, the source explained.
Chinese culture subtly impacting society
The source said the current popularity of cilantro-based Chinese dishes among the Pyongyang upper crust is due to the influx of Chinese media.
“When South Korean dramas and movies began slipping into the country in the 2000s, South Korean culture had a subtle impact on various parts of society. But today, Chinese culture is having a similarly subtle impact. If this trend persists, it may lead to a gradual distancing from South Korean culture,” the source said.
For such reasons, some suspect the Chinese government of being behind the MP7’s development as part of its strategy of spreading Chinese culture in North Korea, the source said.
In addition to the MP7, small numbers of China’s latest tablets and laptop computers are being distributed in the Nampo region.
“Each of these devices contains Chinese movies and songs. North Korean students accept them uncritically, enabling Chinese culture to shape our lifestyle to a much greater degree than before. An increasing number of younger people are studying Chinese so they can understand these programs without subtitles,” the source said.
While the North Korean authorities have not created definite rules for policing the MP7, state security agents are reportedly monitoring them as a “channel for the introduction of new foreign culture and information.”
To be sure, these devices may be confiscated or prompt investigations if problems arise in the future. But young people are already sharing tips for safe usage, such as setting passwords, spoofing file types, and saving media in multiple locations.
