North Korea appears to be integrating ChatGPT, a generative AI model developed by OpenAI, into its higher education curriculum. According to a media report released on Saturday, ChatGPT is being studied at Kim Il Sung University, the country’s most prestigious academic institution.
A report from Voice of Korea, a Pyongyang-based external propaganda outlet, suggests that members of an artificial intelligence research institute at Kim Il Sung University are actively studying ChatGPT’s capabilities. Yonhap News Agency reports that these researchers have been observed learning about ChatGPT’s functionalities and its ability to generate text based on user input.
Given North Korea’s stringent internet restrictions, it remains uncertain whether these researchers have direct access to OpenAI’s service. It is possible they are working with offline datasets, learning materials, or indirect means of studying generative AI technologies.
North Korea is known for its highly controlled internet environment, limiting access to foreign digital platforms. Despite these restrictions, the country has shown interest in AI and technological advancements. The learning material used at Kim Il Sung University outlines how ChatGPT processes inputs and generates coherent text responses, demonstrating a structured approach to AI education.
Han Chol-jin, a researcher at the university, emphasized that the institution focuses on acquiring and adapting advanced technologies for domestic use. This approach aligns with North Korea’s long-standing strategy of indigenizing foreign technologies due to international sanctions and limited access to cutting-edge innovations.
Earlier this month, Choson Sinbo, a pro-North Korea newspaper based in Japan, published a report discussing AI advancements worldwide. The article highlighted the increasing restrictions placed on AI models, particularly China’s DeepSeek, by Western nations.
The newspaper criticized these limitations, framing them as an effort to hinder China’s technological progress. It argued that, despite these barriers, China has managed to develop a cost-effective AI model comparable to ChatGPT, without relying on advanced semiconductor technology. This aligns with North Korea’s broader narrative, which often portrays Western countries as attempting to suppress technological growth in rival nations.
While North Korea continues to explore AI technologies, OpenAI has taken steps to prevent its models from being used for illicit activities. The AI company announced that it has banned accounts that were suspected of involvement in deceptive hiring schemes, potentially linked to North Korea.
In an updated report titled Disrupting Malicious Uses of Our Models, OpenAI revealed that these actors were generating fraudulent documents, including resumes, online job profiles, and cover letters. The report suggests that these activities align with North Korea’s broader efforts to deploy IT workers overseas to generate revenue for the regime.
North Korea has long been suspected of employing overseas IT workers to earn foreign currency, often through fraudulent means. OpenAI’s investigation found that the tactics used in these fraudulent job applications were similar to those previously identified by Microsoft and Google as part of North Korea’s deceptive hiring schemes.
Although OpenAI could not definitively confirm the nationality or location of the actors, the patterns observed in these activities mirror known North Korean strategies. The country has been accused of exploiting global IT platforms to acquire hard currency, bypassing international sanctions.
Conclusion
The reports of North Korea incorporating ChatGPT into its AI education programs indicate a growing interest in generative AI despite severe internet restrictions. Simultaneously, OpenAI’s crackdown on fraudulent activities underscores concerns about North Korea’s efforts to misuse AI for economic gain.
As AI continues to evolve globally, North Korea’s engagement with the technology raises questions about its long-term implications. Whether these developments will lead to meaningful domestic advancements or remain a means to circumvent sanctions remains to be seen.