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

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. It operates Naenara, North Korea's official web portal.

KCC has reportedly collaborated with other state entities on cybersecurity and surveillance initiatives.

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

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

Structure

Korea Computer Center comprises eight research and development centers:

  • Odoksan Information Center: Develops Red Star and other Korean language programs, and it adapts Windows for North Korean application.
  • Mankyong Information Center: Develops North Korean intranet systems including the national intranet Kwangmyong, the Ministry of State Security intranet Shield, the KPA’s intranet "Goldstar" and the Ministry of Social Safety’s intranet Red Sword.
  • Oun Information Center: Develops security programs for organizations that use the North Korean intranets.
  • Samilpo Information Center: Develops various personal digital assistance programs such as Uri, Mokran, Hana and Koryopen.
  • Chongbyon Information Center: Develops automation for factories.
  • Subaeksu Information Center: Develops semiconductors.
  • Milyong Information Center, Treatment devices and information technology that will match up with health treatment methodologies.
  • Samjiyon Information Center, develops games and multimedia products.

Products

  • "Sam heug" search engine

See also

  • Internet in North Korea
  • Economy of North Korea

References

  • Korea Computer Centre