North Korea, a nation known for its stringent cultural controls, has opened a new computer gaming center in Pyongyang offering a surprising array of foreign video games. Despite strict regulations on external influences, the facility provides access to popular titles like FIFA, Call of Duty, and Counter-Strike 2, catering to a privileged segment of the population.
Key Takeaways
- A new gaming center in Pyongyang features state-of-the-art PCs and a wide selection of foreign video games.
- Popular titles include FIFA 11, The Last of Us, Call of Duty, Medal of Honor, and Counter-Strike 2.
- The center appears to have at least 149 gaming stations and includes other amenities like a billiards room.
- Strict rules are in place, emphasizing the use of "Pyongyang standard language" and prohibiting the sharing of gaming content externally.
- The facility, initially opened in April, is now accessible to tourists and foreigners living in the country.
A Glimpse Inside the Gaming Center
Photos and videos shared by apparent Chinese students reveal a glitzy new arcade in Pyongyang’s northern Hwasong District. The facility boasts modern gaming PCs, with one image showing at least 149 numbered gaming stations equipped with Republic of Gamers hardware. The gaming menu lists approximately 70 items, featuring well-known franchises such as Resident Evil, DOTA, Ace Combat, and the aforementioned FIFA, Call of Duty, and Counter-Strike 2.
Strict Rules for Elite Gamers
Despite the availability of foreign games, the center enforces strict rules to maintain cultural purity. Users are warned against using "exotic usernames and recreation-room names that are not in our style" and must "thoroughly use the Pyongyang standard language" during voice conversations. This measure aims to prevent the infiltration of foreign slang, particularly from South Korea, aligning with North Korea’s recent laws like the Reactionary Ideology and Culture Law and the Pyongyang Cultural Language Protection Act. Violators face penalties, including potential bans from using the gaming cards.
Furthermore, taking photographs with gaming scenes in the background is prohibited, and "even minor gaming video materials must not be leaked to the outside." These rules highlight the regime’s ongoing efforts to control information flow and cultural influence, even within a space dedicated to entertainment.
Accessibility and Kim Jong Un’s Visit
The gaming center, which opened in April, was initially accessible only to local North Koreans. It has since opened to the public, including tourists and foreigners residing in the country. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un visited the center on April 3 as part of an inspection tour of new facilities in the Hwasong District, an area that has seen significant development in recent years with numerous new apartment buildings.
