Google in North Korea: Google Not Afraid to Dive Deep Into North Korea

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Google in North Korea: Most people are fully aware that North Korea is one of the most secretive countries in the world. Along with this, the company has not taken well to the adoption of technology. Of course, this has not stopped Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) executive chairman Eric Schmidt from visiting the country.

Last month, we published a few stories detailing his trip to North Korea. To catch up on what happened, you can read these pieces here, here, and here.

Larry Page and Eric Schmidt, Google FoundersAs if the trip by Schmidt was not enough to get people talking, Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) is once again making waves in regards to North Korea. This time around, the company announced that its Google Maps program would now be available in the country, hoping that some “citizen cartographers” would jumpstart the project.

According to a report by The New York Times, Google is “urging them to contribute whatever knowledge they have about one of the world’s most secretive countries.”

Is it possible that this is something Schmidt discussed on his recent trip to North Korea? While he was adamant in stating that the visit had nothing to do with official Google business, we know that he did spend some time learning more about the internet culture in the country.

It is amazing that Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) has been able to get its Maps program up and running in North Korea, being that the country does not exactly get along with the United States.

Here is a brief excerpt from the New York Times article:

“The new map it published at the same time — which shows streets and important buildings in the capital and elsewhere — is focusing new attention on the North at a time when the country is locked in a tense standoff with the United States and its allies over tightened sanctions and has promised to conduct a third nuclear test. An earlier map was mostly blank.”

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