Artificial Intelligence and North Korea’s Cyber “‘All-Purpose Sword”

Over the past decade, cyber tools have become an important enabler of the Kim Jong-un regime’s quest to achieve its policy objectives. Today, as a result of sustained investments by Pyongyang, the DPRK has developed an increasingly sophisticated set of cyber capabilities, which it has used to substantial effect against foreign militaries, banks, companies, media outlets, and individuals. While the regime has been able to achieve much through cyberattacks relying on traditional human operators, there are some areas where automating cyberattacks may prove attractive to North Korea. At the same time, demand for trained cybersecurity professionals usually far outstrips supply, and artificial intelligence (AI) for cyber defense may be an area where the regime ultimately feels compelled to invest, either to offset human capital shortfalls, or as adversary AI-enabled cyberattacks grow more sophisticated. Is North Korea about to make the leap to artificial intelligence-enabled cyberattacks or cyber defense? Or will the country’s international isolation impair its ability to pair up AI with its existing cyber capabilities?

[Source: Korea Economic Institute of America]