North Korea unveils own version of Netflix–report

The world’s “most isolated” nation has finally developed its own video-streaming channel service for its citizens.

North Korea unveiled its version of Netflix called “Manbang,” which means “everywhere,” according to NK News, a news site about North Korean affairs, which cited state broadcaster Korea Central Television’s (KCTV) report on Tuesday.

Manbang connects the state-controlled intranet and allows viewers to watch five TV channels and search for replay documentaries online. North Koreans can read their state publication Rodong Sinmun and watch KCTV on the service. Due to high demand, English and Russian channels are also incorporated in the service.

“If a viewer wants to watch, for instance, an animal movie and sends a request to the equipment, it will show the relevant video to the viewer…this is two-way communication,” said Kim Jong Min, the head of the department in charge of providing information and technology in the country.

Mambang works by injecting a box set to an internet modem, then connecting a High Definition Multimedia Interface cable to the television.

Citizens from the country’s capital, Pyongyang, and provinces of Sinuiju, North Phyongyan, Sariwon and North Hwanghae can access the video-streaming service. In the border province of Sinuiju, there are hundreds of people using radio and video-streaming services, KCTV noted.

However, the service is limited and highly censored, as an enormous population of North Koreans have no access to the internet or social media, BBC reported.  Gianna Francesca Catolico