North Korea is dispatching artificial intelligence researchers and students to Russia and other countries, according to a pro-DPRK media outlet in Japan, the latest sign of its ambition to develop and use cutting-edge AI despite sanctions that restrict technology cooperation with Pyongyang.

“We are sending exchange students, interns and researchers to countries including Russia,” said Kim Kwang Hyok, director of the AI Institute at Kim Il Sung University’s Faculty of Information Science, in a recent interview with the Choson Sinbo.

However, Kim acknowledged that international cooperation in the field remains limited due to restrictions on the DPRK’s weapons program.