North Korea Unveils COVID-19 Quarantine Robot... "Called a Robot, But Just for Show"

Expert: "The level is not high"

On the 23rd, Chosun Central TV introduced the "Intelligent Quarantine Robot" exhibited at the "National Quarantine and Health Sector Science and Technology Presentation and Exhibition-2022," held the previous day at the Pyongyang Science and Technology Hall.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jang Hee-jun] North Korea has unexpectedly unveiled a self-developed COVID-19 quarantine robot. However, experts believe it is highly unlikely that this robot played a significant role in the quarantine process. It is presumed to be a token display aimed at promoting a 'quarantine victory.'

According to reports from North Korean media on the 25th, Korean Central TV reported on the 23rd about the holding of the 'National Quarantine and Health Sector Science and Technology Presentation and Exhibition,' introducing the 'Intelligent Quarantine Robot' as an exhibit.

The robot has a human form with a round head, red eyes, and two arms. It features a large display on the front, similar to the AI robot for children's education developed by Pyongyang University of Education in 2020?2021.

However, Korean Central TV did not specify the functions of this robot. Given its name 'Intelligent Quarantine,' it is presumed to have been deployed in the COVID-19 quarantine process. It likely displays quarantine-related information when the touchscreen on the display is pressed.

Nevertheless, experts view it as highly unlikely that this robot played an effective role in the quarantine process. North Korea has been holding a series of science and technology presentations in the quarantine sector since last month to promote its COVID-19 quarantine victory domestically and internationally, and many believe the robot was exhibited as a kind of 'token display.'

Park Moon-woo, senior researcher at the Korea Intelligent Information Society Agency, analyzed, "The robot displayed at this exhibition is a robot in name only; the content on the display attached to its chest is the main focus," adding, "It does not seem to have direct sensing (detection) functions."

He continued, "For the robot to perform autonomous driving, image capturing, and interpretation, various hardware such as LiDAR sensors are necessary, but these are classified as strategic materials and are difficult to import into North Korea due to sanctions."

In particular, it was explained that since Kim Jong-un's leadership as General Secretary of the Workers' Party, investment in the information and communication technology (IT) sector has been insufficient. This contrasts with the previous leader Kim Jong-il, who emphasized the 'New Century Industrial Revolution' and encouraged the development of CNC (Computer Numerical Control) machines. Since holding the 'National Robot Sector Science and Technology Achievement Exhibition' in 2016 and 2019, North Korea has not been able to hold specialized presentations focused on the robotics field.

Senior researcher Park said, "Since Kim Jong-un took power, investment has been concentrated on the defense sector to enhance the completeness of military developments such as missile development, so the IT sector including robotics inevitably fell behind in priority," adding, "However, since COVID-19, investment in remote fields such as remote education and remote medical care appears to be increasing."