Red Star OS: Difference between revisions

| family = [[Linux]] (desktop and server),<br> [[Android (operating system)|Android]] (on Woolim, [[Arirang (smartphone)|Arirang]], [[Samjiyon tablet computer|Samjiyon]], [[Manbang]], Jindallae and Ryonghung)<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nknews.org/2017/05/north-korean-company-advertising-domestically-made-ipad/|title=Domestic Tablet|work=NKNews[[NK News]]|access-date=2022-07-07|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.techtimes.com/articles/190872/20161231/north-koreas-android-tablet-woolim-is-packed-with-features-automatic-screenshots-non-removable-bloatware-and-more.htm|title=Domestic Tablet |work=NKNews[[NK News]]|access-date=2022-07-07|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://mashable.com/article/north-korean-smartphone|title=North Korean Smartphone|work=Mashable|access-date=2022-07-07|language=en-US}}</ref>

| supported_platforms = [[IA-32]], [[x86-64]] (server only), [[ARM architecture|ARM]] (mobile and tablet only)

| kernel_type = [[Monolithic kernel|Monolithic]] forked from ([[Linux kernel]])

| influenced_by = [[Fedora Linux]] (desktop), [[CentOS]] (Server), [[Android (operating system)|Android]] (mobile and tablet)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://motherboard.vice.com/en_us/article/wnx8yy/inside-north-koreas-totalitarian-operating-system|title=Inside North Korea's Totalitarian Operating System|website=Motherboard|date=27 December 2015 |language=en-us|access-date=2017-08-31}}</ref>

'''Red Star OS''' ({{ko-hhrm|붉은별|mr=Pulgŭnbyŏl|context=north}}) is a [[North Korea]]n [[Linux distribution]], with development first starting in 1998 at the [[Korea Computer Center]] (KCC). Prior to its release, computers in North Korea typically used [[Red Hat Linux]],<ref name="ChosonSinbo">{{citation

| language=ko}}</ref> and later switched to a modified versions of [[WindowsMicrosoft XPWindows]] with [[North Korean language]] packs installed. <ref>{{cite news|title=North Korea's 'paranoid' computer operating system revealed|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/dec/27/north-koreas-computer-operating-system-revealed-by-researchers|access-date=4 May 2018|work=[[The Guardian]]|date=27 December 2015|language=en}}</ref>

Version 3.0 was released in the summer of 2013, but {{asof|2014|lc=y}}, version 1.0 continues to be more widely used.{{Verify source|date=November 2021}} It is offered only available in a [[Korean language|Korean]] edition, [[Internationalization and localization|localized]] with [[North–South differences in the Korean language|North Korean terminology and spelling]].<ref name="Daum">{{citation

Red Star OS features a modified [[Mozilla Firefox]] browser called [[Naenara (browser)|''Naenara'']] ("MyOur country" in Korean), which is used for browsing the [[Naenara]] web portal on North Korea's [[national intranet]] known as [[Kwangmyong (network)|Kwangmyong]]. Naenara comes with two search engines. Other software includes a [[text editor]], an [[office suite]], an [[e-mail client]], [[Media player (application software)|audio and video]] players, a [[file sharing program]], and [[computer game|video games]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=November 20, 2019|title=Naenara: Exploring a North Korean Computer & Internet|url=https://koryogroup.com/blog/naenara-exploring-a-north-korean-computer-internet|url-status=live|access-date=August 14, 2021|website=[[Koryo Tours]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Locker|first=Theresa|date=January 7, 2015|title=You Can Now Install the Original North Korean Operating System RedStar 3.0|work=[[Vice News]]|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/pgaxa9/you-can-now-install-the-north-korean-operating-system-redstar-30|access-date=August 14, 2021}}</ref><ref name=":1" /> Version 3, like its predecessors, utilizes [[Wine (software)|Wine]], a compatibility layer that allows [[Microsoft Windows|Windows]] programs to be run under Linux.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url = http://www.northkoreatech.org/2014/01/31/north-koreas-red-star-os-goes-mac/|title = North Korea's Red Star OS Goes Mac|date = January 31, 2014|access-date = July 23, 2014|website = [[North Korea Tech]]|publisher = Martyn Williams|last = Williams|first = Martyn}}</ref>

The operating system utilizes customized versions of [[KDE Software Compilation]]. Earlier versions had [[KDE 3]]-based desktops. Version 3.0 closely resembles [[Apple Inc.|Apple]]'s [[macOS]], whereas previous versions more closely resembled [[Windows XP]];<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-26047439|title=Apple's Mac OSX imitated in latest North Korea system|date=2014-02-05|work=BBC News|access-date=2017-08-31|language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/apple/10619703/North-Korean-computers-get-Apple-makeover.html|title=North Korean computers get 'Apple' makeover|work=Telegraph.co.uk|access-date=2017-08-31|language=en}}</ref> current North Korean leader [[Kim Jong-un]] was seen with an [[iMac]] on his desk in a 2013 photo, indicating a possible connection to the redesign.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-26047439| title=Apple's Mac OS X imitated in latest North Korea system| date=2014-02-05| publisher=[[BBC News]]}}</ref><ref name=telegraph-redstarapple>{{cite web|title=North Korean computers get 'Apple' makeover|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/apple/10619703/North-Korean-computers-get-Apple-makeover.html|work=The Daily Telegraph|date=5 February 2014 |access-date=6 February 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=North Korean computers get iMac makeover|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/blue-sky-north-korea-computer-resembles-an-imac-2015-6?r=US&IR=T|work=Business Insider|access-date=2022-07-07}}</ref>

<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.fastcompany.com/3036046/what-its-like-to-use-north-koreas-red-star-os|title=A Visual Guide To North Korea's Totalitarian Operating System|date=2014-09-23|work=Fast Company|access-date=2017-08-31|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.engadget.com/2010/03/04/north-koreas-red-star-os-takes-the-open-out-of-open-source/|title=North Korea's Red Star OS takes the 'open' out of 'open source'|website=Engadget|date=4 March 2010 |access-date=2017-08-31}}</ref>

[[File:Windowing in Red Star Linux.png|leftright|thumb|220x220px|Built-in games in Version 2.0 of Red Star OS, including a ported versionversions of [[Atomix (video game)|Atomix]] and [[Minesweeper (video game)|Minesweeper]].]]

One copy has been leaked online. The screenshots of the operating system were officially published by KCNA and discovered by South Korean news sites.<ref name=":1">{{cite web|author=Tong-hyung|first=Kim|date=5 April 2010|title=NK Goes for Linux-Based Operating System|url=httphttps://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/biz/2010/04/123_63669.html|url-status=live|work=[[The Korea Times]]}}</ref>

The development of version 2.0 began in March 2008, and was completed on June 3, 2009. Like its predecessor, its appearance resembles Windows XP, and was priced at 2000 [[North Korean won]] (approx. US$15).

Version 3.0 was introduced on April 15, 2012, and its appearance resembles [[macOS]] operating systems of various versions.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.northkoreatech.org/2014/12/30/red-star-3-0-desktop-finally-becomes-public/|title=Red Star 3.0 Desktop finally becomes public|last=Williams|first=Martyn|date=2014-12-30|website=[[North Korea Tech - 노스코리아테크]]|access-date=2017-08-31}}</ref> The new version supports both [[Internet Protocol version 4|IPv4]] and [[IPv6]] addresses.

The operating system comes pre-installed with a number of applications that monitor its users. If a user tries to disable security functions, an error message will appear on the computer, or the operating system will crash and reboot. In addition, a watermarking tool integrated into the system marks all media content with the hard drive's serial number, allowing the North Korean authorities to trace the spread of files. The system also has hidden "anti-virusantivirus" software that is capable of removing censored files that are remotely stored by the North Korean secretSecret serviceService. There is a user group called "[[superuser|administrator]]" in the operating system. Users do not have root access by default, but are able to elevate their privileges to root by running a built-in utility called "rootsetting". However, provisions are made in kernel modules to deny even root users access to certain files, and extensive system integrity checks are done at boot time to ensure these files have not been modified.<ref name="chaos" />

Red Star OS 3 comes with a customized version of [[OpenOffice.org|OpenOffice]] called ''Sogwang Office''.<ref name="chaos"/>

The operating system was leaked by [[2020–2021 Nintendo data leak|Zammis Clark]] ("SlipStream").<ref>{{Cite web |title=r/linux - I managed to get a hold of the latest version of that North Korean Linux distro, in some shape or form. Here's a torrent of Red Star OS 3.0 Server. |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/linux/comments/272zxf/i_managed_to_get_a_hold_of_the_latest_version_of/ |access-date=2022-07-14 |website=reddit |date=2 June 2014 |language=en-US}}</ref>

Very littleLittle information is available on version 4.0.

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