In
computer technology, North Korea's hardware developments have been lagging behind; however its software developments have been sound and are being expanded.
[13] In general,
software development is on a high level and it could become a major export item in the future, along with world-class voice recognition, automation and medical technology.
[14] North Korea has developed its own
operating system, the
Red Star,
[15] and has an
intranet network named
Kwangmyong, which contains censored content from the
Internet. North Korean IT specialists demonstrate a high degree of technological literacy.
[16]
The
Korean Committee of Space Technology is the country's national space agency. The KCST is controlled by the
National Defense Commission, and operates in parallel with several other major institutions, such as the State Academy of Sciences and the
Artillery Guidance Bureau.
[17] As of 2010, two space launch facilities are operational - the
Tonghae Satellite Launching Ground in
North Hamgyong province, and the
Tongch'ang-dong Space Launch Center in
North Pyongan province.
Kwangmyŏngsŏng-class satellites were launched from the former site by means of
Paektusan and
Unha rockets. So far, a total of three launch attempts were made, although none of them was successful.
[18]
North Korea is also researching and deploying various military technologies, such as
GPS jammers,
[19] stealth paint,
[20] midget submarines and
human torpedoes,
[21] chemical, biological and nuclear weapons,
[22] anti-personnel lasers
[23] and ballistic missiles.
[24]