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North Korea generally has its military apparatus. But lately, it is progressing in the civil technologies, according to the official North Korean version.
As always, it is difficult to verify these statements and to measure the true technological limits of a closed country under international sanctions, but it is important to note the importance the country has given to technology. The focus on this sector reflects North Korea's willingness to develop technology to improve its economy – a key goal of Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un.
In recent months, state media has publicly celebrated several achievements in the field of advanced technologies, including a smart home system.
One of the newest technological projects is a new Wi-Fi service called Mirae, which allows mobile devices to access the state-owned Internet network in the capital, Pyongyang.
The service aired on the Korean public channel on November 8.
The North American North American surveillance website, 38North, indicated that it was the first time that an outdoor Wi-Fi connection service was mentioned in North Korean media .
In 2017, the North Korean media used the brand" iPad ", launched in the US in December Apple, to name a tablet development on the spot – Photo: Getty Images
Another gadget presented to The time was a smart home system by voice, which exploits electronic devices such as fans, air conditioning, televisions and lamps.
The system was developed by the University Kim Il-sung, which seems to be ahead of the country's efforts in this area.
The DPRK today published a propaganda website on 21 November according to which university researchers point various artificial intelligence systems, including a Korean language recognition program.
U n article published in the North Korean Workers Party newspaper, Rodong Sinmun, indicates that the Institute of Technology of the University "has a fierce ambition for supremacy in the field of intelligence artificial … And wish to contribute to the development of artificial intelligence technology industry in the country ".
Martyn Williams of the North Korea Tech blog told the BBC that the services cited in the North Korean media "are real and seem to be at least used by the people of Pyongyang".
"North Korea has, yes, software engineers and talented systems, so the features highlighted in the reports must be real."
"Fourth Industrial Revolution"
According to internal information in North Korea, the engine of investment in technology seems to be the restructuring of the economy and the strengthening of "national power".
At a party meeting held in April, Kim Jong-un said that science and education should serve as the "building block of state and clue" important national strength ".
As part of efforts to create a scientific community, North Korea has offered incentives to scientists and engineers in the form of lush apartments and other privileges.
To an unusual extent, the Rodong Sinmun newspaper published on October 29 an article by Ri Ki-song, a professor at the Institute of Economics of the Academy of Social Sciences, in which he said that the North Korean economy should move to a knowledge-based economy and develop technology, nanotechnology, biotechnology and other advanced technologies in a competitive manner on a global scale.
A "special article" published in the same newspaper on December 8th indicated that the North Korean economy "is taking a more innovative direction than ever before" and that it "would give priority to the development of science and technology ".
But does the country have this capacity?
Is North Korea on its way to becoming a powerful nation of innovation?
Unlike South Korea, the neighboring country is not known for its technological advances, so there needs to be some skepticism.
"North Korea does not have much strength in its advanced manufacturing, so phones and computers advertised as domestic are usually Chinese," says William of the North Korea Tech blog.
In May 2018, Tren Micro, a Japanese antivirus company, said that North Koreans had illegally copied their intellectual property or source code for an antivirus.
Last year, North Korean media used the "iPad" brand, Apple, to name a tablet development on their territory.
"From direct copies to looser imitations to the blatant use of internationally renowned brands such as" iPad ", North Korean technology is replete with examples of foreign product duplication," wrote NK News in 2017
The technological limitations of North Korea go further.
A report released by the Korea Korea Devolopment Bank in 2017 indicates that North Korea's artificial intelligence will be "facing the wall because of its financial resources, its economic situation and international sanctions".
Even if these sanctions are canceled, according to Martyn Williams, some countries and companies may still want to avoid doing business with North Korea because it could damage their image.
But he says he believes that large investments of South Korean companies are possible with "the encouragement of the government".
In November, a group of senior North Korean officials went to Pangyo Techno Valley, a technology hub in South Korea, to learn about autonomous cars, 3D printing, and more. Artificial intelligence and game technology.
Another obstacle could be the "paranoia" of North Korea with information likely to flee with new technologies.
"The greatest hope of the North Korean government is a gradual opening up that satisfies the information hunger and a better quality of life for people while controlling the country.It is a difficult balance", says Williams, from North Korea. Tech.
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