Rakwon

Rakwon (paradise) is a video conferencing software. It can be accessed through Kwangmyong. It was developed by the Kim Il Sung University in the DPRK.[1]

This virtual meeting system houses functions for sending videos and voice files, accessing electronic documents simultaneously, and for performing real-time multi-media tasks and virtual meetings. Due to the restrictions on travel in North Korea, the technology can prove to be instrumental in connecting people in remote areas with institutions located in the capital city.[2]

Early photo of Rakwon indicate that it is running on, North Korea’s Linux operating system, Red Star OS. Newer versions of Rakwon seems to be working on Microsoft Windows.

History

Chosun Sinbo was first reported to reported its existence in January 2012. The article claimed that video conferencing software developed by the Kim Il Sung University and won a gold prize at a technology festival in September 2011.[3]

In 2019, Korean Central News Agency reported that the group that developed Rakwon had won the prestigious “February 16 Science and Technology Prize”, top national science and technology award in the DPRK, for 2019. The report claimed Rakwon "had been introduced throughout the country".

The software wasn’t mentioned in news releases until 2020. Korean Central Television throughout the pandemic regularly reported and highlighted use of the Rakwon software in workplaces and factories in the country.[4][5]

The meeting on June 23 2020, when Kim led a preliminary meeting of the Central Military Commission via Rakwon, was the first time that an online meeting was managed by Kim as well as the first entirely online meeting.[6]

In a news report, a meeting screen showed 37 organizations participants. The list indicated that Rakwon network was widely used by North Korea’s industrial enterprises and now links together central and provincial government organizations.[7]

In 2021, one of the biggest North Korean annual expos, the National Exhibition of IT Successes (전국정보화성과전람회), took place online through Rakwon.[8]As nobody outside North Korea have access to the software, international video conferences are conducted with foreign video conferencing software.

References
  1. Jun-tae, Ko (2021-05-16). "N. Korea's Zoom-type app Rakwon gains traction". The Korea Herald. Retrieved 2023-10-16.
  2. "Video Conference System "Rakwon" Developed in DPRK". dprktoday.com. Retrieved 2023-10-16.
  3. Williams, Martyn (2021-05-13). "Rakwon: North Korea's Video Conferencing Paradise - 38 North: Informed Analysis of North Korea". 38 North. Retrieved 2023-10-13.
  4. "Twenty Years of Mobile Communications in North Korea".
  5. Williams, Martyn; Natalia, Slavney (2022-11-15). "Twenty Years of Mobile Communications in North Korea - 38 North: Informed Analysis of North Korea". 38 North. Retrieved 2023-10-16.
  6. "North Korea's Building of a Civilized Socialist Country". Global North Korea (in Korean). Retrieved 2023-10-14.
  7. ""북, 화상회의체계 '락원' 적극 활용"". Radio Free Asia (in Korean). Retrieved 2023-10-13.
  8. Williams, Martyn (2022-01-11). "North Korea's online IT exhibitions". North Korea Tech - 노스코리아테크. Retrieved 2023-10-16.
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