The Internet is, arguably, the most relevant invention of the XX Century. Who could have imagined that, well into the new millennium, the World Wide Web would be the center of our lives? We work, move around, rest, relax, entertain ourselves, research, talk, write, communicate, and study with online tools.
It is unfortunate that some countries, specifically their political authorities, exercise so much censorship and surveillance of what people do or visit while connected to the web. These governments (some of them are China, Iran, Bangladesh, Turkey, and North Korea) don’t want their “netizens” to get in contact to news sites, social media networks, forums, and other platforms that may spark political debates and cause unrest.
As a result, one of the most relevant birthrights of the human being is being violated: freedom of speech. Nearly 40 percent of the world’s population doesn’t have unrestricted access to Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), and a sizable number of people can’t enter social media accounts or international news sites. One of the most sensitive cases is North Korea.
North Korea and access to Facebook
There is no denying that everything concerning North Korea is mysterious, and the information is not easily found online. We do know, however, that Internet access is minimal, to say the least: in fact, the society isn’t nearly as acquainted to the Internet as one would believe, and most citizens either don’t know much about its existence, they don’t care much about it, or they don’t want to risk harsh penalties by the government.
We have heard that foreigners and visitors do have access to the Internet and many pages, but the reality remains that North Korean citizens can’t enjoy numerous sites. As you may imagine, Facebook is blocked in the nation. Being an American product, a Western-civilization social media network with access to worldwide news, VoIP services, and chatting features, the platform represents a threat to Kim Jong-Un and other North Korean authorities. Known for their harsh measures to promote discipline and censorship in the Asian country, they have complete control of what people access on the web.
VPN technology and its uses
If you want to bypass censorship measures in any country and access Facebook in North Korea, you need one of the best free or paid VPNs that the market has to offer. Virtual Private Networks, or VPNs, are data encryption tools that will allow the user to hide their shared content online and location information from North Korean authorities.
Using a VPN will mean that your real IP address will be hidden from censorship and surveillance agencies, as users will borrow one for temporary use that belongs to another country. Using one of the best free VPNs to access Facebook in North Korea will provide you with the chance of spoofing your location and gaining a foreign IP address from a nation that allows Facebook activity without restrictions.
Free VPN vs. paid VPN
Free VPNs have the allure of the user forfeiting any costs, but they come with a few caveats. They can leak your IP address around the web; they often show ads that affect navigability and usability, sell logs of your data – which would violate the term “privacy” – and have data caps.
Yes, you can use free VPNs, and some of the best may work to unblock access to Facebook in North Korea. However, you have to think twice about prioritizing them over premium options in a country with such a harsh stance over people who use the Internet or who try to “trick” the system and enter banned sites, such as social media networks. Check here the Best Premium VPN to access Facebook in North Korea.
Best Free VPN to access Facebook in North Korea
1. HideMan
Hideman is a free VPN that requires no registration, which is a fantastic setting for online security in a country in which it comes at a premium. It is one of the best free VPNs for unblocking Facebook in North Korea.
HideMan comes with a monthly data cap of 2 GB, right at the average for free VPNs. It has a paid service, as well, if you want to have access to all the features. Overall, Hideman is a usable option to browse the web in North Korea.
Pros:
- An exclusive plan for mobile devices
- A free and a paid version
- No registration required in the free plan
- Supports P2P activity
- Speeds are not too shabby
Free plan limitations:
- No OpenVPN in the free plan
- Some logging activity in the free plan
- Clients are very basic
- No OpenVPN
- Only 2 GB per month
- A speed limit of 512 kbps
- No change IP on the fly
- It has servers in five countries. Paid plans offer 19 nations
2. SurfEasy
It may not be the most conventional name, but SurfEasy is one of the best free VPN for unblocking Facebook and all of its features, including Facebook Messenger, in North Korea. It has a costless and a paid plan, it is user-friendly, and it allows both torrenting and Netflix usage.
The USA jurisdiction and the absence of a kill switch feature are turn-offs, but make no mistake: the OpenVPN protocol, AES 256-bit encryption, and free Chrome proxy are enticing offerings that you will hardly pass on.
Pros:
- OpenVPN protocol and AES 256-bit encryption
- Both free and paid plans
- Easy to use
- TOR + VPN
Free plan limitations:
- The privacy policy isn’t rigorous
- The free plan only offers 500 MB of data
- USA jurisdiction
- It isn’t very fast
- It has email support and not any other option
- Only 500 MB of monthly free data: the paid plans has unlimited bandwidth
- No tracker blocking or torrent protection
- The paid plan has 28 countries available for connection, far more than the free one
Best paid VPN for North Korea
1. VyprVPN
As long as you don’t torrent a lot, VyprVPN is in the discussion for the title of best paid VPN option in North Korea. While it discourages P2P activity, it has a three-day free trial, secure encryption, no DNS leak problems, and works with streaming platforms.
VyprVPN maintains a broad network of 700 servers in 70 nations around the world, and while it keeps activity logs for up to a month, it won’t use them against you. The best offering for VPN users in North Korea, however, is the rock-solid Chameleon protocol that helps you avoid deep packet inspections by the governmental authorities.
Pros:
- The unique Chameleon protocol, as well as OpenVPN and some of the best in the industry
- AES 256-bit encryption
- Servers in 70 nations
- A free trial
- No problems with DNS leaks
30-Days Money-Back Guarantee
2. IPVanish
If you want security and privacy over any other trait, then IPVanish should be your go-to VPN. It works in North Korea, so you would be able to unblock Facebook there with no issues. With 256-bit encryption, a strict no logging policy, DNS leak protection, a kill switch, and other configuration options, it offers you endless possibilities.
Another positive aspect of IPVanish is its fast browsing and downloading speeds. It may not be the smoothest app or have the best customer service in the industry, but IPVanish will make your IP…well, disappear.
Pros:
- Fast speeds for downloading and browsing
- Highly secure
- Multiple protocols available
- Highly compatible
- Servers in 60 nations and more than 40,000 IPs available
7-Days Money-Back Guarantee
Conclusion
In conclusion, to unblock access to Facebook in North Korea as well as other restricted platforms and sites, you need one of the best free VPNs in the industry, although a couple of paid alternatives stand out from the rest as well. HideMan and SurfEasy work like a charm if you don’t have the budget to pay for an encryption service. If you do, then try VyprVPN and its Chameleon protocol or IPVanish.