List of North Korean websites banned in South Korea
, there are 65 North Korean-run and pro-North Korean websites blocked in South Korea, a country that practices substantial Internet censorship of diverse content. A test conducted by OpenNet Initiative in 2010 found that most websites blocked in South Korea are related to North Korea. The number of blocked North Korean sites has increased in recent years.
Blocking is based on the National Security Act, and coordinated by the Korea Communications Standards Commission, which also engages in Internet surveillance. The commission is nominally independent but mainly appointed by the government. The blocks are implemented by Internet service providers. South Korean law imposes punishments up to seven years of imprisonment for attempting to access blocked sites. According to Reporters Without Borders, blocking of North Korean websites is not viewed favorably by South Korean Internet users and some know how to circumvent it. Internet Archive's Wayback Machine and web caches of search engines are not blocked and include copies of North Korean websites.
In 2005, up to 3,167 webpages unrelated to North Korea were found to be blocked due to blocking IPs at the router level. DNS tampering that prevents domain names to be resolved into correct IPs is also used.
In addition to entire websites, it is possible to block accounts on social media, and some 13 accounts have been blocked on Facebook, YouTube and Twitter, including Uriminzokkiri's Twitter account. Twitter, however, has proven impractical to censor because retweets of North Korean tweets by other users are not blocked. Furthermore, any links to North Korean websites in the tweets are already blocked. Individual contents of websites hosted in South Korea may also be deleted. In 2010, South Korean website administrators were forced to delete 80,499 pro-North Korea messages.
Blocking has increased from previous years. According to Reporters Without Borders, blocking sharply intensified during Lee Myung-bak's presidency. In OpenNet Initiative's 2006 test, the overwhelming majority of tested North Korean websites were blocked. In 2007 and 2008, a significant number of tested North Korean sites remained blocked and blocking was consistent among Internet service providers.
2014 list
The following North Korea-based or pro-North Korean websites were blocked in South Korea in 2014.| Site | URL | Description | Hosted in/by | |
| Air Koryo | | Website of North Korea's national airline | In North Korea | |
| Chochong | | Website of the League of Korean Youth Living in Japan | In Japan by Nippon Rad | |
| Cholsan Patent and Trademark Agency | | A Pyongyang-based patent and trademark attorney | In North Korea's IP block on the website of Korea Computer Center | |
| Chongryon | | Japanese language website of the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan | In Japan by Kai Creates | |
| Choson Sinbo | | English and Korean language website of Choson Sinbo, a newspaper published by the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan | In Japan by Usen | |
| Elufa | | Korean language video portal of the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan | In Japan by Otsuka | |
| Faster Korea | Multilingual website with information about international sports | In North Korea's IP block by Star JV | ||
| Friend | | News, e-books and information on cultural exchange | In North Korea's IP block by Star JV, on the same server as Naenara | |
| Great National Unity | | Korean language website targeted at audiences in South Korea, Japan and China | In North Korea | |
| Korea Education Fund | | English and Korean language website of a non-governmental organization coordinating support for education | In North Korea's IP block by Star JV | |
| Korea Elderly Care Fund | | English and Korean language website of a non-governmental organization dedicated to well being of the elderly | In North Korea's IP block by Star JV | |
| Korea International Film Festival | Official website of the Korea International Film Festival and North Korean film industry | In North Korea | ||
| Korea National Insurance Corporation | | Website of North Korea's state-run insurance company | In North Korea | |
| Korea News Service | | Korean Central News Agency news | In Japan by GMO Internet | |
| Korea Photo Service | | Distributes Korean Central News Agency photos. | In Japan by Usen | |
| Korea Publication | | Only partially blocked. Sells North Korean books, DVDs and stamps. Run by Beijing Sunyong Scientific Technology Trade company. | In China by China Telecom | |
| Chosŏn ryori | | Website of the Korean Association of Cooks. Includes recipes and restaurant reviews. | In North Korea | |
| Korean Central News Agency | | Multilingual website of the main state news agency | In North Korea's IP block by Star JV | |
| Koryo PAT Rainbow | | Website of a patent and trademark agency | In North Korea's IP block on the website of Korea Computer Center | |
| Minjok Tongshin | | English and Korean language news | In USA by 1&1 Internet | |
| Naenara | | Multilingual web portal with news, magazines and music. Naenara is. | In North Korea's IP block by Star JV | |
| Korean language news of the National Democratic Front of South Korea's branch in Japan and English language news of the Anti-Imperialist National Democratic Front, a South Korean underground political group | Dynamic host | |||
| North Korea Books | | Canadian online bookstore selling North Korean books, magazines and newspapers | In USA by NaviSite | |
| North Korea Tech | | Technology blog by British journalist Martyn Williams | In USA by Bluehost | |
| Our Nation School | | Korean language teachings on the Juche idea | In China by China Unicom | |
| Pyongyang International Trade Fair | | Information on the Pyongyang International Trade Fair | In North Korea's IP block on the website of Korea Computer Center | |
| Rodong Sinmun | | Website of Rodong Sinmun, the organ of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea | In North Korea's IP block by Star JV | |
| Voice of Korea | | Multilingual website of North Korea's international shortwave broadcaster | In North Korea's IP block by Star JV, on the same server as Naenara | |
| Ryomyong | | Website of the National Reconciliation Council. Contains books and music. The domain is owned by Rio IT Production based in Shenyang, China. | In Australia by Net Quadrant | |
| Ryugyong Clip | | Pyongyang in videos and images | In China by China Unicom | |
| Tong Il Han Ma Eum | | Korean language news of the Association of Peaceful Reunification of the Motherland based in Japan | In Japan by KDDI | |
| Uriminzokkiri | | A news portal. Uriminzokkiri is. | In China by China Unicom |