If you happen to have a tour to North Korea coming up, you might want to reconsider. What if you have an online business or a company that requires for you to have a mobile internet connection on the go? Tourists are often not that much interested in checking their emails or Facebook updates, but then again, we can’t really handle the idea of NO Internet connection during vacations.

Kind of reminds me of the South Park internet episode.

Annnnnyyywayy, word is that the foreign visitors are no longer able to access 3G wireless networks in North Korea. First, they did have a month of internet connection open for “outsiders”, but later on, the North Korean government changed its decision.

Why there’s No Internet for Foreigners in North Korea?

The term “Why” does not meet a satisfying answer. For the time being, the reclusive country has plans of relaxing restrictions on visitors’ wireless internet access requests. Apparently, there is some kind of rule which mandates visitors to leave their mobile devices outside the country. These rules long required foreigners to leave their handsets at the airport or at the border.

The idea of leaving your iPhone or trendy smartphones at the North Korean airport seems a little upsetting. Anyhow, foreign visitors were not too happy whenever they reportedly tried to access voice and text services on 3G networks.

Screenshot from Koryo Tours Website – The National Images

Speaking of 3G mobile services, Koryolink; one of the semi government 3G service providers, came up with the initiative of offering wireless services on March 1, 2013. Foreigners were allowed to bring their own WCDMA phones, devices or gadgets into the country. In case a visitor didn’t have a WCDMA compatible device, he could rent a mobile phone or buy a local SIM at the airport.

Lately, the Koryo Tours Website made announcements concerning denial of services for Koryolink foreign mobile internet users. Koryo Tours specializes in offering vacation packages and services to foreigners. At their website, the following is clearly stated:

NOTE: 3G access is no longer available for tourists to the DPRK. Sim cards can still be purchased to make international calls but no internet access is available.

The website does not make mention of any specific reasons as to why there is no 3G wireless support for visitors. North Korea and South Korea are going through a tough relationship already. The move came when a recent cyber-attack against the North Korean government was executed. Based on an IP address trackback, which might have been inaccurate, the Korean authorities believe it was a group of government hired Chinese hackers.

Due to such incidents, North Korea has severed 3G wireless connection for foreigners until further intimation.