Korea Computer Center

Korea Computer Center
Company typeState-owned enterprise (since 2015)
Research institute (until 2015)
IndustryInformation technology
Founded24 October 1990 (1990-10-24)
Headquarters
Mangyongdae-guyok, Pyongyang
,
North Korea
Area served
North Korea
ProductsRed Star OS
OwnerGovernment of North Korea
Korea Computer Center
Chosŏn'gŭl
조선콤퓨터중심 or 조선콤퓨터쎈터
Hancha
朝鮮콤퓨터中心
Revised RomanizationJoseon Kompyuteo Ssenteo
McCune–ReischauerChosŏn K'omp'yut'ŏ Ssent'ŏ

The Korea Computer Center (KCC) is the North Korean government information technology research center. It was founded on 24 October 1990.[1] KCC, which administered the .kp country code top-level domain until 2011, employs more than 1,000 people.[2]

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.

KCC has reportedly collaborated with other state entities on cybersecurity and surveillance initiatives.[5][6]

Nosotek is another North Korean IT venture company that develops computer games; two of them were published by News Corporation.[7] Another such company is the Pyongyang Information Center.[8]

In early 2015, the KCC was reorganized, with all functions not related to the development of Red Star OS being transferred to other entities.[9]

  1. ^ a b "Korea Computer Center". Naenara. Archived from the original on 2014-12-31. Retrieved 2015-10-19.
  2. ^ "Laos signs software deal with North Korea". Investvine.com. 2013-03-16. Archived from the original on 2020-08-10. Retrieved 2013-03-17.
  3. ^ 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.
  4. ^ Lee, Jean H. (25 July 2011). "North Korea's 'Digital Revolution' Under Way". AP. Huffingtom Post. Retrieved 8 August 2011.
  5. ^ "Latest Developments in North Korea's Cyber Aggression and the ROK's Responses". Retrieved 2024-10-31.
  6. ^ "IntelBrief: The Threat Landscape of North Korea's Cyber Arsenal". Retrieved 2024-10-31.
  7. ^ Campbell, Matthew; Bomi Lim (2010-09-08). "Kim Bowled for Murdoch's Dollars With Korean Games". Bloomberg. Retrieved 2010-09-13.
  8. ^ Will Scott (29 December 2014). "Computer Science in the DPRK [31c3]". YouTube. Chaos Computer Club. Retrieved 23 February 2015.
  9. ^ "Growth of 'knowledge economy' in the Kim Jong Un era". North Korean Economy Watch. Retrieved 2022-02-14.