A North Korean delegation from the Ministry of Education recently visited Shenzhen, China, to explore opportunities for collaboration with companies specializing in artificial intelligence (AI) and extended reality (XR) technologies, according to a Thursday report. The discussions went beyond mere technological observation, delving into opportunities for extensive cooperation, including product localization, joint development, and academic exchanges, highlighting potential digital technology connections between North Korea and China.
According to information released on Thursday by Chinese AI company Blaze, the North Korean delegation spent two days, from January 27 to 28, at the company’s innovation product exhibition center. They closely examined technological capabilities and applications in AI and XR. The delegation experienced educational content combining virtual and real-world elements through hand gestures in an augmented reality (AR) interactive area with large screens. They also explored various scenarios, including digital intangible cultural heritage and future office spaces, while wearing XR devices during a mixed reality (MR) exhibition.
During a roundtable discussion, both parties reportedly engaged in practical talks focused on three key areas of cooperation and established an initial consensus. First, they considered localizing Blaze’s standardized AI and XR products for the North Korean market by adapting the interface, voice, and educational content to Korean.
They also discussed a project to jointly create digital content that reflects North Korea’s historical, artistic, and tourism resources, using XR and AI-generated content (AIGC) technologies, aiming to combine national characteristics and technological sophistication. Additionally, Blaze indicated that they explored establishing a framework for academic cooperation and exchanges in AI+XR fields to jointly promote theoretical research and expand applied technologies.
Blaze reported that North Korea’s Ministry of Education highly values its technology and expressed hope for establishing a sustainable cooperative relationship in digital content and educational technology through this visit. North Korea also hinted that it would use this contact as a starting point for new collaboration.
This trend suggests that North Korea is seeking assistance from China to enhance its AI capabilities. While assessments indicate that North Korea’s relationship with China has weakened since its closer ties with Russia, this situation confirms that cooperation between the two countries continues in important areas.
Blaze has reportedly collaborated with major Chinese technology, media, and telecommunications institutions, including Huawei, People’s Daily, and China Telecom. Given these institutions’ close ties to Chinese government policies, some interpret this contact as a signal to expand digital cooperation between North Korea and China beyond mere corporate exchanges.
However, North Korean media have not reported on this matter.
Recently, North Korea has actively expanded its use of AI. Reports indicate that it dispatched AI research personnel to Russia last year and is analyzing the integration of AI into its military’s unmanned systems. Furthermore, analyses suggest that North Korea-linked hacking organizations are enhancing their cyber operations using AI tools, indicating that AI is emerging as a key technology to strengthen North Korea’s asymmetric power.
Collaboration in the education sector could serve as a way around technology transfers, given the relatively lower risk of violating sanctions against North Korea. In particular, exchanges within the digital educational infrastructure could expand AI talent development in the industrial and military sectors in the medium to long term, making future cooperation trends noteworthy.
