Instagram ‘Blacklisted’ In N Korea After Fire

WARNINGS are appearing on Instagram accounts in North Korea telling users that the popular photo-sharing app is now blacklisted.

The notice says the service – which is owned by Facebook – contains harmful content.

The warnings have been appearing sporadically over the past five days.

Internet provider Koryolink, on which the warnings have appeared, said it has had no notice from the government that Instagram has been blacklisted.

It is unclear whether the blacklist status is an official ruling, or where the warnings originate from.

Despite the warnings, the site is still usable on mobile devices but virtually impossible to access on a desktop.

The apparent crackdown comes after a fire on 11 June at a luxury hotel used by tourists and foreign visitors in Pyongyang.

Photos of the fire leaked out of the country and appeared in media around the world despite not being reported by North Korea’s state-run media.

The internet and social media is off-limits to most North Koreans, but foreigners in the country can use 3G on their phones.

Twitter, Facebook and other social media sites still appear to be functioning normally. -SkyNews.com