The Ministry of Unification’s North Korean Data Center is embarking on an ambitious digitization project this year, aiming to convert approximately 240,000 pages of North Korean documents into digital format. This initiative includes key materials such as Kim Il Sung’s collected works and specialized journals in science and medicine, attracting significant attention from researchers and analysts.
On Tuesady, the Public Procurement Service’s online marketplace announced the 2026 North Korean Data Center Collection Digitization Project as an urgent notice. With a budget of about 299 million KRW (approximately 203,000 USD), the project targets 3,501 publications and books, totaling around 240,422 pages.
While this project continues ongoing digitization efforts, this particular phase includes notably significant materials. The book category features an extensive collection of official documents related to North Korea’s supreme leaders, including 45 volumes of Kim Il Sung’s collected works, 10 volumes of his selected works, 12 volumes of his anecdotal collections, and 33 volumes of Kim Jong Il’s complete works.
The range of periodicals in the project is even more diverse, covering decades of accumulated materials. These include external promotional magazines like Chosun Photo (659 issues from 1964-2019) and Geumsu River Mountains (360 issues from 1990-2019). Additionally, specialized publications such as Technological Innovation (390 issues from 1986-2018), World of Science (184 issues from 1990-2019), Agricultural Hydraulics (192 issues from 1992-2019), and Meteorology and Hydrology (162 issues from 1991-2019) are included. Technological Innovation stands out as the most extensive periodical, with 26,520 pages.
The project has expanded to include the medical field, encompassing specialized journals in various medical disciplines. These range from internal medicine and surgery to Korean traditional medicine and pharmacology. Furthermore, academic publications from Kim Il Sung University in fields such as physics, life sciences, mathematics, and environmental sciences will also be digitized.
This comprehensive digitization of core knowledge areas in North Korea – including science, medicine, industry, and education – is expected to significantly enhance accessibility for researchers who have traditionally relied on physical document access.
The systematic digitization of decades’ worth of specialized publications will provide a foundation for more detailed analysis of technological and academic trends within North Korean society. This project’s significance extends beyond mere document preservation, offering valuable insights into the country’s internal developments.
It’s worth noting that some materials in this project will be classified as special materials. These will undergo digitization under strict security protocols, including network isolation and restrictions on remote access, to maintain their confidentiality.