North Korean authorities have recently begun allowing foreign residents in Pyongyang to use cellular phones.

Citing North Korean sources in Beijing, Japan's Tokyo Shimbun newspaper said mobile phone use in the communist state has been available since 2002, but was limited due to the North's concerns about possible leakages of news or information out of the country.

The paper said a Pyongyang-based foreigner recently applied for the mobile phone service for 980 euros or 1.3 million won. The one-minute call charge is 0.7 euro, and the rate for receiving calls is 0.2 euro.