North Korean Executed Over Cell Phone Call

(CANVAS STAFF REPORTS) - A call to a friend cost a North Korean man his life, according to published reports .

The man, identified only as Jung, reportedly confessed under torture to phoning a friend who defected to South Korea nine years ago. Any North Korean who has contact with the South can face life in prison – or execution. The exact date of Jung's execution could not be confirmed.

Soldiers raided Jung's home where they discovered a mobile phone made in China. Chinese-made phones are illegal in the North. Jung told soldiers that he had discussed harsh living conditions in the North and the high price of rice.

After he confessed, Jung was shot dead by a firing squad, according to Seoul-based Open Radio for North Korea .

Jung is believed to be the first person to be executed since The government tightened a crackdown on illegal mobile phones last month. North Korea allows citizens to use mobile phones but the phones must be registered and the calling range is limited to the capital city of Pyongyang. Making international calls is not allowed, nor is making calls to South Korea.

Cell phones were banned in North Korea following a 2004 explosion, but the ban was eased in 2008. Last year, the government allowed limited Internet access for mobile phones .