The South Korean Ministry of Unification has disclosed that North Korea possesses three factories handling semiconductors, which are believed to be involved in the assembly of mobile phones.
On Tuesday, an official from the South Korean Ministry of Unification met with reporters and stated that, according to the North Korea Information Portal, three companies specializing in information and communication devices are listed: the Pyongyang Integrated Circuit Factory, the Pyongsong Semiconductor Factory, and the Chosun Semiconductor Factory. The official further explained that the Pyongyang Integrated Circuit Factory has previously been revealed through North Korean media, while the Pyongsong and Chosun Semiconductor Factories were first mentioned in a North Korean industry report published by the Korea Development Bank in 2022.
The North Korea Information Portal describes the Pyongyang Integrated Circuit Factory as a semiconductor device factory established in April 1992. The Pyongsong and Chosun Semiconductor Factories are listed as information device and software development facilities. The specific activities and scale of these factories remain unknown.
Previously, Chung Dong Young, the nominee for Minister of Unification of South Korea, mentioned artificial intelligence (AI) as a potential area for inter-Korean exchange and cooperation during a parliamentary confirmation hearing. He stated that three semiconductor factories are operating in North Korea, presumably in Pyongyang, Pyongsong, and Wonsan.
Chung predicted that as the world enters the midst of the AI revolution, North Korea is likely to feel anxious. He asserted that science and technology, particularly AI, will play a crucial role in future inter-Korean cooperation.
Last September, 38North, a North Korea-focused media outlet under the U.S. Stimson Center, reported on the status of smartphones in North Korea. They noted the emergence of new mobile phones in North Korea following the COVID-19 pandemic. 38North estimates that approximately 6.5 million to 7 million of North Korea’s total population of 24 million use mobile phones.