North Korea To Host International Blockchain and Cryptocurrency Conference

By Rishma Banerjee

North Korea, under the dictatorship of the Kim Dynasty, and being ruled by their ‘supreme leader’ Kim Jong-un, in a landmark announcement said that they were all set to host their blockchain and crypto conference, next spring. While South Korea, who has been making monumental strides in the adoption of blockchain technology and cryptocurrency gears up to expand usage by introducing ADA debit cards, North Korea too, seems to be taking steps in that direction. The conference was initially posed to be hosted in October of this year according to their official webpage, has been shifted to April 2019. The old dates have however been removed and replaced with the new ones on the website run by the president of the Korean Friendship Association Alejandro Cao de Benós without further comments or explanation.

Though the schedule of the conference is yet to be revealed, the event will span over eight days, and those participating will have to shell out 3,363,503 won ($3,732) each in order to register. This registration fee, however, includes the entire package for the two-day conference and a tour of the country. The tour is inclusive of visits to a war museum, a university campus and the Daedonggang Beer Factory

However, internet access or roaming network connection will not be allowed, though for an additional charge of 5$ the participants will be allowed internet for an hour daily and can also make phone calls. If anyone requires more privacy than the one provided by a, opting for a  North Korean SIM card might be a better idea. Participants, however, will be allowed to bring their own laptop, smartphone or tablet.

U.S. citizens are welcome as participants as per reports, but people from South Korea, Japan and Israel won’t be encouraged.

According to the LinkedIn profile of the CEO of Token Key, an ICO and blockchain firm, Christopher Emms is an organizer of the event, who was also looking for potential speakers and participants.

Rishma Banerjee

Rishma is currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in International Relations and has a special place in her life for sifting through all sorts of random trivia, thank you very much.