North Korea has been significantly advancing its artificial intelligence (AI) initiatives, utilizing prohibited NVIDIA graphics processing units (GPUs) to bolster its technological prowess. This development has sparked international concern over the potential for more advanced cyberattacks and military applications.
A 2025 analysis on North Korea’s AI landscape indicates that the country has pursued AI research since the late 1990s. In recent years, efforts have centered on technologies such as pattern recognition, voice synthesis, and data optimization, often relying on restricted hardware like the GeForce RTX 2700. Despite strict U.S. export bans, North Korea has managed to obtain these GPUs through illicit trade routes and front companies, empowering the regime to train AI systems for activities including cryptocurrency theft, deepfake production, and sophisticated surveillance.
Since the 2010s, North Korea has expanded its AI research infrastructure and developed proprietary algorithms. Recent advancements include real-time tracking of multiple individuals and systems capable of identifying accents. These innovations, documented in North Korean academic publications, could automate surveillance using CCTV and drones, thereby enhancing both military and cybercrime operations. Security analysts in South Korea caution that access to powerful GPUs enables small teams to conduct large-scale, highly precise cyberattacks, particularly targeting digital assets.
In November 2025 alone, cybercriminals stole over $172 million in digital currencies, employing AI tools to mimic voices, create convincing deepfakes, and exploit vulnerabilities in smart contracts.
North Korea’s ambitions extend well beyond financial crimes. The regime is integrating AI into its military modernization efforts, as demonstrated by Kim Jong Un’s public showcases of AI-powered drones designed to enhance border security and combat readiness. Research from Kim Chaek University of Technology in 2025 highlighted algorithms capable of tracking multiple targets in real time, potentially automating surveillance of urban areas and military sites.
International collaboration has further accelerated North Korea’s AI progress. State media have reported on the deployment of researchers to Moscow and the country’s dependence on Chinese supply chains for essential technology components.
Efforts by the United States to restrict the export of advanced technology have inadvertently increased the black-market demand for GPUs. Older models like the RTX 2700, though subject to restrictions, are easier to smuggle due to their consumer packaging. Experts warn that tightening sanctions could drive North Korea to pursue even more illicit procurement and develop homegrown alternatives, complicating international attempts to limit the regime’s technological advancements. The Biden administration’s AI export framework, which targets high-end chips, has yet to stem the steady flow of mid-range GPUs into sanctioned countries.
As North Korea weaves AI into its cyber and military strategies, the international community faces mounting challenges. The regime’s use of AI for both financial gain and strategic deterrence underscores the necessity for agile countermeasures. Solutions may include stronger authentication systems and enhanced international cooperation to disrupt technology smuggling networks. Swift, coordinated action is essential to address the risks posed by this new era of state-sponsored cyber warfare.