[tomkadwill]

Is it compulsory that all North Koreans use Red Star 3.0?

[anonova]

The hosts of a VICE documentary were able to visit a computer lab [1] last year, and looking at the start button(?), it looks like an older version of Red Star OS.

[1]: http://youtu.be/IrCQh1usdzE?t=15m43s

[blinkingled]

According to the CCC talk by a guy who went there to teach CS, most everyone uses WinXP - Red Star is used in industrial setting mostly.

If that's the case wonder why they went all the way to so meticulously clone OS X UI.

[mikeash]

Perhaps the reason is similar to the (apocryphal) tale of how the Tu-4 was manufactured with bullet holes copied from a captured, battle-damaged B-29 because Stalin said to copy it exactly.

[blinkingled]

That or they're planning to transition from XP to Red Star for everyone whenever it's 'ready' - which would be quite an ambitious plan!