As smart device usage surges in North Korea, analysts suggest the nation’s inaugural smartwatch may be equipped with global positioning system (GPS) technology, potentially serving as a tool for monitoring citizens. While the growing demand for electronic devices, particularly among younger North Koreans, could improve living standards, experts warn these advanced gadgets might double as surveillance instruments for the regime, according to reports on Thursday.
Martyn Williams, a Stimson Center researcher with two decades of expertise in North Korean information and communication technology, recently examined a smartwatch unveiled by the country’s Sujeong Cheon Technology Trade Company through his newly established media platform, NK TECHLAB.
The outlet reports that North Korean firms are expanding into smart technology sectors as market competition intensifies. Sujeong Cheon Technology Exchange Company led the charge by introducing the Sujeong Cheon 5010 smartwatch.
This cutting-edge device made its debut at the Pyongyang Spring International Trade Fair in May 2025. Journalists from the pro-North Korean publication Choson Sinbo attended the event and covered the product launch.
Choson Sinbo described the Sujeong Cheon 5010 as North Korea’s first domestically developed SIM-equipped smartwatch. The device boasts an array of features, including phone calls, message alerts, music playback, location tracking, and health monitoring functions such as heart rate, blood pressure, blood oxygen levels, and step counting.
Speculation has arisen that the smartwatch may incorporate real-time location tracking capabilities, potentially allowing third parties to pinpoint users’ whereabouts at will.
NK TECHLAB, however, notes that such a system would require GPS or comparable satellite positioning services to function accurately. Given that most North Korean mobile phones lack GPS support, this claim is intriguing. The outlet also suggests that while a Chinese electronics company likely manufactured the smartwatch, confirming this information remains challenging at present.
In a 2024 report titled, Smartphones in North Korea, published on 38 North, Williams revealed that Chinese companies produce all smartphones sold in North Korea, with North Korean firms acquiring them through Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) arrangements. He posits that North Korea faces significant hurdles in independently designing and manufacturing smartphones due to technological limitations.
Despite regulatory obstacles, demand for smart devices is believed to be rising among North Korea’s younger population. Williams’ report estimates that out of North Korea’s 24 million residents, between 6.5 and 7 million are mobile phone subscribers.