.kp


.kp is the Internet country code top-level domain for North Korea; it was created on 24 September 2007.

History

applied for the Internet country code top-level domain in 2004. ICANN, however, refused because North Korea did not meet some of the requirements. Another attempt was made via Korea Computer Center Europe in 2006. Later, the main body of KCC and the North Korean 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 agreed to assign to North Korea.
One of the first organizations to adopt a domain was the Korean Central News Agency in 2009.
Previously, the domain was managed by Korea Computer Center Europe. A large number of websites 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 North Korea 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 North Korea domains and websites, while regarding the worldwide country-code second-level domain distribution rules, the second-level domain rules in North Korea can be interpreted as below. Please be aware that all commercial organizations in the North Korea are state-owned, while star-co.net.kp seems to be the only commercial email service provider in the North Korea.
The following are externally accessible domain name examples of the use of second-level domain names:
, at least nine top level domains and more than 30 domains are accessible to the global Internet. These are as follows:
Some addresses are used by the North Korean Intranet only.