"DeepSeek Success Is a Defeat for the US," Says North Korea Researching ChatGPT

Used for Hacking Virtual Assets and Financial Information, and Disguised Employment

In North Korea's education sector, scenes of education related to ChatGPT, a generative artificial intelligence (AI) developed by the US-based OpenAI, have been captured.

ChatGPT featured in research materials from Kim Il-sung University. Voice of Korea

On the 21st, North Korea's external propaganda media Choson’s Sori introduced the Kim Il Sung University Artificial Intelligence Technology Research Institute as a "group of experts in the AI field." Among the materials they study was a document titled 'GPT-4 Example: Essay Writing.' Dr. Han Cheol-jin of Kim Il Sung University explained to Choson’s Sori, "They are teaching the secrets to deeply mastering advanced technology and how to adopt it as our own." Although ChatGPT is an AI created by the adversarial United States, it appears that they are researching ChatGPT to utilize the technology in their own way.

However, it is uncertain whether they are actually using ChatGPT while researching it. Using ChatGPT requires an internet connection, which is restricted in North Korea. Nevertheless, there is evidence that North Korea has already been using AI technology to refine hacking and other covert operations. The Google Threat Intelligence Group (GTIG) analyzed in a report last month that North Korea attempted hacking by using Google's AI 'Gemini' to explore operational information of US Forces Korea and to collect information related to virtual assets and finance. It was also revealed that they tried to disguise themselves to get jobs at Western companies on the employment and networking site 'LinkedIn' by creating fake resumes and self-introductions through AI. In this regard, OpenAI announced on the same day that it had detected and deleted North Korea-related accounts abusing ChatGPT. The deleted accounts were found to have used ChatGPT for creating false resumes and online profiles.

North Korea also appears to be trying not to miss news related to the global AI boom. The Choson Sinbo, the official newspaper of the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryon), which represents North Korea’s position, reported on the 7th about the international community’s moves to block access to DeepSeek amid the DeepSeek craze in China and concerns over information leaks. Choson Sinbo criticized, "Western media label Chinese AI with a negative tag, saying there is a risk of information leaking to the Chinese government, and governments and companies are taking measures to block access, trying to create an international 'DeepSeek encirclement network.'"

It added, "Without using cutting-edge semiconductors, it is a low-cost AI comparable to 'ChatGPT,' a product of the US company 'OpenAI.'" It praised, "ChatGPT is closed-source, but DeepSeek is open-source based and open. Using open source can reduce development costs and, above all, accelerate technological innovation within a global developer community." It continued, "The success of DeepSeek is not so much a victory for China as it is a defeat for the United States," emphasizing, "Technological superiority cannot be maintained through sanctions and blockades."