PYONGYANG: North Korea is developing artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning for everything ranging from responding to COVID-19 and safeguarding nuclear reactors to conducting wargaming simulations and government surveillance, a new study claimed.
Despite facing international sanctions related to its nuclear weapons program, North Korea’s pursuit of AI hardware has not been completely thwarted, indicating a persistent interest in acquiring cutting-edge technology. The study, authored by Hyuk Kim from the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies in California, highlights North Korea’s strategic investment in AI and machine learning to enhance its digital economy.
N Korea’s AI Progress Raises Sanctions Concerns: Report
The report, released by the 38 North project and drawing on open-source information, including state media and journals, reveals that some North Korean AI researchers have collaborated with foreign scholars. North Korea established the Artificial Intelligence Research Institute in 2013, and various companies have been actively promoting commercial products incorporating AI.
Despite strict restrictions on communications technology in North Korea, the country utilized AI during the COVID-19 pandemic to create a model for assessing proper mask usage and prioritizing clinical symptom indicators of infection. Additionally, North Korean scientists have explored the application of AI for ensuring the safety of nuclear reactors.
The study points out that the development of AI in North Korea poses challenges, with the pursuit of a wargaming simulation program using machine learning indicating an intent to understand operational environments against potential adversaries better. Moreover, concerns are raised about North Korea’s collaborations with foreign scholars, as these interactions could impact existing sanctions regimes.
