Facebook Blasts North Korea and Uriminzokkiri

Have you heard of the new group on Facebook?

A group on Facebook belonging to to Uriminzokkiri, a Web site that provides Korean-language news and propaganda from North Korea’s central news agency.

The group had been previously deleted due to violation of Facebook terms.. A replacement account has appeared and carries similar content as the original. The profile is described as a single male who has interests in Korean reunification and lactose free milk… no joke… lactose free milk.  He describes  himself as wanting to network and meet friends. The group is listed on the Uriminzokkiri site, which is essentially… North Korea’s official home on the Internet. The Facebook group links users to articles on the Uriminzokkiri Web site and videos on the site’s YouTube channel.The Facebook group was drawing attention from mainstream media but became “unavailable” on Friday.

Facebook deleted the group because the account was violating the terms of use. As stated on PCWorld the terms in this situation are stated in section 16 putting usage restriction on the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control list that reads: “If you are located in a country embargoed by the United States or are on the U.S. Treasury Department’s list of Specially Designated Nationals you will not engage in commercial activities on Facebook (such as advertising or payments) or operate a Platform application or website.”

North Korea is listed as being under U.S.government.

The Facebook group isn’t the first attempt  in social media by the Uriminzokkiri Web site. Before Facebook… they started a YouTube channel and a Twitter account. The Twitter account has more than 10,000 followers.

The issue with this Web site is the restrictions put on it by the South Korean government. which has blocked the site for many years and is blocking access to the Twitter account. The blocking only affects the homepage so the Twitter page is accessible. The Web site also features information on software and techniques that show users how to bypass the blocking.