.kp

.kp is the Internet country code top-level domain (ccTLD) for North Korea (DPRK). It was created on 24 September 2007.

History
The DPRK applied for the .kp Internet country code top-level domain (ccTLD) in 2004. ICANN, however, refused because the DPRK did not meet some of the requirements. Another attempt was later made via the Korea Computer Center (KCC) Europe in 2006. The main body of KCC and the DPRK Ambassador to the United Nations petitioned ICANN again. They were refused again for providing insufficient information. A new application was sent in January 2007, and an ICANN delegation visited the country in May. This time, ICANN finally agreed to assign .kp to the DPRK.

One of the first organizations to adopt a .kp domain was the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) in 2009.

Previously, the .kp domain was managed by the Korea Computer Center (KCC) Europe. A large number of .kpwebsites were also hosted by KCC Europe in Germany. However, in 2011, management was transferred to the Pyongyang-based Star Joint Venture.

Second-level domains
Neither the DPRK government agencies nor the central registry have published the second-level domain registration rules. However, according to the using practices shown by the currently existing and accessible DPRK domains and websites, while regarding the worldwide country code second-level domain distribution rules, the second-level domain rules in the DPRK can be interpreted as below.


 * ac.kp : Academy institutes
 * aca.kp : Academic and research institutes
 * co.kp : Generally commercial organizations
 * com.kp : Generally commercial organizations and sometimes government information agencies as well
 * con.kp : Construction
 * edu.kp : Institutions of higher education
 * law.kp : Legal firms
 * hia.kp :
 * inf.kp : Information sites
 * org.kp : Industrial associations, civil organizations, and public funds
 * gov.kp : Government departments
 * ref.kp : Reference works
 * rep.kp : Information agencies of the Workers' Party of Korea
 * roi.kp :
 * net.kp : Internet service providers and email service providers
 * sca.kp : Affiliated institutes under the Ministry of Culture (cf. Cabinet of North Korea)

The following are externally accessible domain name examples of the use of second-level domain names:


 * aca.kp : mirae.aca.kp
 * com.kp : airkoryo.com.kp, knic.com.kp, friend.com.kp
 * edu.kp : ryongnamsan.edu.kp, kut.edu.kp, gpsh.edu.kp
 * law.kp : fia.law.kp
 * org.kp : cooks.org.kp, koredufund.org.kp, kass.org.kp
 * gov.kp : mfa.gov.kp, moph.gov.kp, tourismdprk.gov.kp
 * rep.kp : rodong.rep.kp, vok.rep.kp, gnu.rep.kp
 * net.kp : [Usually appears as the extension for email addresses published elsewhere on other DPRK websites: e.g.  @star-co.net.kp ]
 * sca.kp : korart.sca.kp

Existing and externally accessible domain list
, at least nine second-level domains are active under the .kp top-level domain and around 30 domains in total are accessible to the global Internet. These are as follows:

Bold indicates a dedicated article on the website itself.


 * airkoryo.com.kp
 * cooks.org.kp
 * dprkportal.kp
 * fia.law.kp
 * friend.com.kp
 * futurere.com.kp
 * gnu.rep.kp
 * gpsh.edu.kp
 * kass.org.kp
 * kcna.kp
 * kftrade.com.kp
 * kiyctc.com.kp
 * knic.com.kp
 * korart.sca.kp
 * korean-books.com.kp
 * koredufund.org.kp
 * korelcfund.org.kp
 * korfilm.com.kp
 * korstamp.com.kp
 * kut.edu.kp
 * ma.gov.kp
 * manmulsang.com.kp
 * masikryong.com.kp
 * mediaryugyong.com.kp
 * mfa.gov.kp
 * minzu.rep.kp
 * naenara.com.kp
 * polestar.com.kp
 * portal.net.kp
 * pyongyangtimes.com.kp
 * rodong.rep.kp
 * ryomyong.edu.kp
 * ryongnamsan.edu.kp
 * sdprk.org.kp
 * silibank.net.kp (Sili Bank, mail server only)
 * star.net.kp
 * star-co.net.kp (Star Joint Venture Co. Ltd., mail server only)
 * star-di.net.kp
 * tourismdprk.gov.kp
 * vok.rep.kp
 * youth.rep.kp
 * samhae.com.kp
 * yongsaeng.org.kp

Some .kp addresses are used by the North Korean Internet only, and some of them are only accessible in the Kwangmyong network, alongside regularly-used 24-bit block IPv4 private addresses.