Kim's Phone
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Welcome to “Kim’s Phone”
Kim Jong Un’s cellphone has appeared in state propaganda since 2013. Photos of the phone are censored, suggesting North Korean officials have concerns about releasing information about his phone. Why? We think Kim Jong Un may rely on his smartphone to communicate nuclear launch decisions. What if service was interrupted in a crisis—and Kim Jong Un thought it was the beginning of an attack? Explore our notional “Kim’s Phone” to find out more.
Interactive by Kaitlin Emmons, Jeffrey Lewis, Sam Meyer, Jessica C. Varnum, and David Steiger of the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies
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The Experts
January 2013
First appearance of the phone (barely visible)
The phone is too small to make out any details.
At North Korean Arirang smartphone factory. It is unknown if Kim uses an Arirang or an imported model.
August 2013
August 2019
Observing a rocket artillery test from an observation van. A tablet computer is also visible.
This is the best unblurred view of the phone, but it is a low-resolution image likely screenshoted from a tv broadcast. The phone is only about 55 x 15 pixels.
Observing a ballistic missile test
The cell phone is visible in the background but encased and face-down.
Kim Jong Un observes another missile test, with his sister, Kim Yo Jong in the background.
September 2019
Kim’s phone appears on the map, face-down and encased
Kim Jong Un at a short-range missile test
March 2020
Kim’s phone is visible and face-up, but almost completely obscured by his ashtray.
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Video montage of Kim Jong Un watching a multiple launch rocket system test. There is no apparent blurring of the phone.
CNS experts use open source techniques, including Tungstène software by eXo maKina, to detect photo manipulation by countries like North Korea.
Kim Jong Un’s phone appears to be blurred in this photo, but was it intentional? CNS analysts investigate using Tungstène, a digital forensics program.
Tungstène’s Chrome filter shows “luminance noise.” Kim’s hair and face are noisy (possibly due to cosmetic touch-ups). The area around the map and phone have uniformly low noise, suggesting use of a blur tool.
The Q4 filter shows texture. The pockmarks on Kim’s face have sharp texture, while the map and smartphone have an unnaturally blurry, washed-out texture.
The phone appears blurred in this second image of Kim watching a ballistic missile test, but was it intentional?
Again, Kim’s hair and face are noisy and the area encompassing the map and phone have uniformly low noise, suggesting use of a blur tool.
Again, Kim’s pockmarks are sharp while the map and smartphone are unnaturally blurry. There is also a visible seam between the blurred phone and map and the unblurred desk.
Chrome Filter
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"Send nuclear launch order"
"Nuclear launch may cause global catastrophe. Are you sure you want to do this?"
YES
Network is busy, please try again later.
SEND
Send nuclear launch order
|
YES!
Nuclear launch may cause global catastrophe. Are you sure you want to do this?
Network Error. Please try again later.
Sending...
QUIT
