North Korea, a nation often described as “technologically isolated,” is reportedly making strides in integrating artificial intelligence into its military operations. The use of artificial intelligence in warfare is a growing global trend, and North Korea’s foray into the field is causing concern among defense analysts and world powers.

The country, already known for its covert operations and military focus, could reshape conflict strategies with advances in autonomous and artificial intelligence-based intelligence systems.

In this article, we explore North Korea’s push into AI-based military strategies and the potential risks, tactics, and geopolitical challenges it could create.

The rise of AI in military strategy

Artificial intelligence is becoming increasingly integrated into military applications around the world.

Nations such as the United States, Russia, and China have adopted AI to improve their military capabilities. South Korean Defense Minister Kim Yong-Hyun he noted that while AI can improve military effectiveness, it also poses significant risks.

North Korea is beginning to enter the military AI scene, focusing on integrating AI into its operations to supplement its conventional forces with limited resources.

North Korea may explore integrating autonomous weapons, such as swarms of drones and unmanned vehicles, into its military. These systems could perform reconnaissance, surveillance and attack missions with minimal human intervention. AI could help reduce these disparities by increasing efficiency for a country with relatively low military spending.

However, autonomous weapons raise serious ethical and governance concerns. There are fears that machines could make quick, uncontrolled decisions that increase conflict, especially in an environment with little regulation. The potential misuse of these systems in the militarized context of North Korea could lead to chaotic and destabilizing outcomes, both on the battlefield and in international politics.

Intelligence based on artificial intelligence and cyber warfare

North Korea has long been a key player in the cyber warspecifically targeting financial institutions and cryptocurrency exchanges. Kim Jong Un considers its cyber capabilities a “Kim Jong Un’s universal sword,” which sees artificial intelligence as a tool to enhance offensive cyber operations.

Using AI to automate attacks and quickly exploit network vulnerabilities, North Korea has conducted highly effective cyber attacks, including ransomware campaigns such as the infamous WannaCry incident in 2017.

The role of AI in boosting North Korea’s cyber capabilities is significant. Rapid decision-making, real-time adaptation and network scanning make North Korean cyber attacks more difficult to counter. As a resultAI could become one of North Korea’s key asymmetric weapons, allowing it to disrupt adversaries at a fraction of the cost of traditional military forces.

North Korea has always prioritized surveillance, and artificial intelligence could further enhance its capabilities. By incorporating artificial intelligence-based technologies such as satellite systems, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and algorithms that predict enemy movements, North Korea could aim to improve its intelligence gathering on foreign powers.

AI could enable more efficient and automated monitoring of dissidents, military activities and foreign diplomatic missions, potentially heightening tensions with neighboring countries such as South Korea, Japan and the US.

The risks of an AI-led war

North Korea’s pursuit of military technologies based on artificial intelligence comes with significant risks. AI systems, especially in the hands of a regime with centralized decision-making, could lead to miscalculations or unintentional escalation of conflict. Autonomous systems can misinterpret ambiguous commands or target the wrong entities, leading to disastrous consequences.

Although the integration of AI into nuclear command and control remains speculative, such a scenario would seriously threaten global security.

Geopolitical implications

As North Korea develops its AI capabilities, the balance of power in East Asia could shift. AI could force countries like South Korea, Japan and the US to revise their military doctrines, raising regional tensions and possibly sparking an AI arms race. Moreover, AI misjudgments or hacking incidents could worsen diplomatic relations and create new challenges in denuclearization negotiations.

Countries with complex relations with North Korea, such as Chinacould face further pressure as Pyongyang seeks to project AI-enabled power in the region.