north-korea-red-star-computer

When former Google employee Will Scott had the chance to visit the Pyongyang University of Science and Technology, he also purchased a copy of North Korea’s “Red Star 3” operating system before returning to America.

Little was publically known about Red Star 3.

North Korea used to use Windows, but it has since created Red Star 3, which is designed to look a lot like Apple’s Mac OS X operating system.

From stunning and picturesque wallpapers to removing South Korea from the available time zones, here’s what it’s like to use a computer in North Korea.

This is the startup screen when you first boot up Red Star 3.

this-is-the-startup-screen-when-you-first-boot-up-red-star-3Will Scott

When installing Red Star 3, you’re prompted to select a city for your time zone. Interestingly enough, Seoul, South Korea, isn’t an option.

when-installing-red-star-3-youre-prompted-to-select-a-city-for-your-time-zone-interestingly-enough-seoul-south-korea-isnt-an-optionWill Scott

This is the login screen.

this-is-the-login-screenWill Scott

You’re in! You’ll notice Red Star 3 looks a lot like Mac OS X. Past versions looked more like Windows XP. Since Kim Jong Un was spotted using an iMac at his desk back in 2013, some people believe he wanted Red Star to look more like a Mac.

youre-in-youll-notice-red-star-3-looks-a-lot-like-mac-os-x-past-versions-looked-more-like-windows-xp-since-kim-jong-un-was-spotted-using-an-imac-at-his-desk-back-in-2013-some-people-believe-he-wanted-red-star-to-look-more-like-a-macWill Scott

This is the word processor for creating documents.

this-is-the-word-processor-for-creating-documentsWill Scott

Here’s the email client.

heres-the-email-clientWill Scott

To access your saved documents, you use Red Star’s file manager, which looks a lot like Apple’s “Finder” management system.

to-access-your-saved-documents-you-use-red-stars-file-manager-which-looks-a-lot-like-apples-finder-management-systemWill Scott

Red Star’s web browser is called “Naenara,” and it is a heavily modified version of Mozilla Firefox.

red-stars-web-browser-is-called-naenara-and-it-is-a-heavily-modified-version-of-mozilla-firefoxWill Scott

This is how you personalize Red Star, and we also have access to the wallpapers that are included.

this-is-how-you-personalize-red-star-and-we-also-have-access-to-the-wallpapers-that-are-includedWill Scott

This wallpaper is titled 다박솔초소의 설경, or “snow at the baksol outpost.”

this-wallpaper-is-titled---or-snow-at-the-baksol-outpostWill Scott

This wallpaper’s name translates to “Night view of Zhuangzi River fire.”

this-wallpapers-name-translates-to-night-view-of-zhuangzi-river-fireWill Scott

대홍단의 감자꽃바다, or “daehongdan’s potato flowers”

--or-daehongdans-potato-flowersWill Scott

This beautiful wallpaper translates to “Iron’s Azalea,” and shows the flowering Azalea shrubs.

this-beautiful-wallpaper-translates-to-irons-azalea-and-shows-the-flowering-azalea-shrubsWill Scott

“On the horizon” shows a picturesque North Korean farmland.

on-the-horizon-shows-a-picturesque-north-korean-farmlandWill Scott

This gorgeous waterfall wallpaper is called “Echo of the falls.”

this-gorgeous-waterfall-wallpaper-is-called-echo-of-the-fallsWill Scott

범안리의 선경, or “Beomanli’s Outskirts.”

--or-beomanlis-outskirtsWill Scott

This is “Mt Paekdu’s Sunrise.” Paekdu is an active volcano that borders North Korea and China.

this-is-mt-paekdus-sunrise-paekdu-is-an-active-volcano-that-borders-north-korea-and-chinaWill Scott

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