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North Korea s fiber optic communication

Fiber and communications infrastructure knowledge brief Published 25 Mar 2021

Prepared for preliminary research by the ENSAA knowledge desk. Confirm optical interfaces, port or core capacity, electrical input and output, enclosure protection, thermal design and installation limits against current standards and product documentation.

North Korea's fiber optic network forms a controlled domestic backbone and connects internationally via China and Russia, supporting both the state-run intranet and limited global internet access.

Domestic Fiber Optic Infrastructure

North Korea has developed a national fiber optic backbone primarily to support its domestic intranet, known as Kwangmyong, which is accessible to most citizens, while global internet access is restricted to a small elite. The network began in the early 1990s with a Pyongyang fiber optic factory and expanded with a 300 km trunk line to Hamhung in 1995. By the early 2000s, fiber optic cables connected major cities including Pyongyang, Hamhung, Nampo, Rajin-Songpa, and Sinuiju, often following railway lines and major roads to facilitate installation and maintenance.

Ministries and government institutions are connected via fiber optics, ensuring centralized control over communications.

International Connectivity

North Korea's main international internet connections are through fiber optic links to China and Russia. The primary link to China runs from Pyongyang to Dandong, operated by China Unicom, while a second connection to Russia was established in 2017 via the TransTeleCom network, crossing the Tumen River on the Korea-Russia Friendship Bridge. These connections provide limited global internet access for government, research, and foreign entities, while the majority of citizens remain on the domestic intranet.

Technical and Strategic Considerations

Fiber optic cables in North Korea are used to transmit data as light signals, offering faster and more reliable communication than traditional copper lines. The network is largely buried or routed along infrastructure corridors, such as railways and roads, to protect it from environmental and security risks. The government tightly monitors all traffic, and mobile networks like Koryolink and Kangsong NET rely on fiber optics for backhaul, with 4G LTE deployed in 2023 to improve data speeds and public service delivery.

Historical Development1995: First fiber optic trunk from Pyongyang to Hamhung. 1998: Pyongyang connected to Sinuiju on the Chinese border. 2000: Expansion to Nampo, Hamhung, Rajin-Songpa, and Rajin-Songpa to Hunchun (China),.

2010: China Unicom link activated for international internet. 2017: Russia-North Korea fiber link via TransTeleCom.

Implications

The fiber optic network allows North Korea to modernize communications while maintaining strict control over information flow. It supports mobile networks, government operations, and limited international connectivity, but the majority of citizens remain isolated from the global internet. Improved fiber infrastructure could enhance economic efficiency and internal communication, but the regime's focus on control limits broader societal access.

In summary, North Korea's fiber optic network is a strategically controlled system that underpins both domestic intranet services and selective international connectivity, reflecting the country's balance between modernization and information control.

North Korea s fiber optic communication - ENSAA OPTICAL NETWORKS [PDF]

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Technical note

This reference is intended for preliminary fiber and communications infrastructure research. Optical interface, fiber type, port or core capacity, electrical input and output, enclosure protection, cooling, installation limits and applicable standards must be verified for the specific project.

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