Arirang (smartphone)

Arirang
ManufacturerLocal vendor
TypeSmartphone
Form factorSlate
Operating systemAndroid
Data inputsMulti-touch, capacitive touchscreen
Push buttons

Arirang (Korean: 아리랑) is a line of North Korean Android smartphones. They were announced on 10 August 2013. The phone was distributed to local sales points operated by mobile operators such as Koryolink to be sold together with 3G SIM cards or as a stand-alone device. It is named after the "Arirang" Korean folk song.[1]

Kim Jong Un has expressed his excitement with and support of the smartphone, believing it will support the country's economy and "instill national pride and self-respect".[2][3]

Phones released in order - Arirang AS1201, Arirang 151, Arirang 152, Arirang 161, Gold Arirang which has a gold interior, the Double-sided Tachi Arirang FP68, Arirang 171 and Arirang 221.[4]

  1. ^ "Arirang, le smartphone nord-coréen". Lesnumeriques.com. 13 August 2013. Archived from the original on 3 September 2023. Retrieved 9 November 2015.
  2. ^ Rieser, Bennett (12 August 2013). "North Korea Unveils the Arirang, the Painfully Ironic Android Smartphone". WebProNews. Archived from the original on 4 July 2017. Retrieved 28 November 2013.
  3. ^ "Kim Jong Un Visits May 11 Factory". Archived from the original on 13 March 2015. Retrieved 3 May 2015.
  4. ^ NK, Daily (16 November 2017). "Growing cellphone use sign of North Koreans thirst to access and spread information | Daily NK English". Archived from the original on 14 January 2024. Retrieved 7 January 2024.