▲ North Korean film industry delegation visits Hunan Share Technology in China
A North Korean film industry delegation recently visited an artificial intelligence (AI) video technology company in Hunan Province, China, it has been revealed.
North Korea's visit suggests an interest in utilizing AI tools for film and video production, according to NK News, a US-based outlet specializing in North Korea.
Hunan Share Technology stated in a press release posted on its website on October 19 that a North Korean film delegation recently visited and inspected the company.
The head of the delegation was identified as Kim Eun-chul, but no other information confirming his title or identity was disclosed.
NK News explained that it was unable to verify a North Korean official matching this name.
According to the press release, the North Korean delegation toured the company's "full-stack AI content production system" and experienced core technological achievements such as AI video production, AI short-form drama industrialized production lines, and intelligent digital content generation.
They also received briefings on AI video production processes, including intelligent script analysis, automatic storyboard generation, digital scene composition, virtual character acting, video editing, and multilingual subtitle production.
Both sides discussed digital film production and the distribution of cultural content across multiple media platforms.
The delegation reportedly stated that traditional films embody the "historical memory" of a nation and cited AI as an important tool for cultural dissemination.
They also expressed a desire to leverage AI tools to revitalize their own film production, digitally restore classic movies, and promote North Korean works overseas.
The two sides expressed hope that the visit would lead to cooperation in the fields of AI video/film technology and creative tools, moving "from exchanges to business execution."
According to NK News, this is at least the second time this year that a North Korean delegation has visited a Chinese company to explore cooperation in the AI sector.
In January of this year, North Korean Education Ministry officials visited Shenzhen-based Blaz Information Technology to experience AI and extended reality (XR) products and discuss localization strategies for use in North Korea.
At the time, the two sides also explored the joint development of digital content utilizing North Korea's historical, artistic, and tourism resources.
This visit took place amid strengthening ties between North Korea and China.
In June of this year, Chinese President Xi Jinping called for expanding "practical cooperation" in science and technology and exchanges in culture and media during his visit to North Korea for the first time in seven years.
NK News explained that North Korea has been seeking to expand its use of AI over the past few years.
Starting in 2025, it sent AI researchers to Russia to study, and leader Kim Jong-un has repeatedly ordered the integration of AI into weapon systems.
According to NK News, North Korea has previously attempted short-form videos targeting overseas viewers.
Sogwang Media in Pyongyang operated several social media accounts featuring young vloggers starting in 2018.
However, these accounts were shut down in 2024 after leader Kim Jong-un abandoned the reunification policy.
Publicly reported AI-related activities in North Korea have thus far largely focused on the weapons sector.
This includes the AI-guided torpedo system that North Korean state media reported testing last week.
(Photo: Capture of company press release, Yonhap News)
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