North Korea seeks to catch up in global robotics

According to several South Korean media outlets, citing the Japan-based newspaper Choson Sinbo, North Korea has allegedly developed robots for educational and public use. One was reportedly shown to diplomats during the parliamentary poll on March 15, 2026.

According to the reports, a Pyongyang university of education has unveiled robots for educational purposes referred to as Dojeon and Sujae. The first reportedly serves as an assistant for teachers, providing explanations and answering students’ questions, while the latter is designed for home learning for children aged 1 to 10 and also features a built-in display.

However, the extent of their autonomy and other technical details have not been disclosed. The reports also note that the article included photos of a female-shaped humanoid robot wearing traditional Korean attire.

A similar-looking robot appeared at the Supreme People’s Assembly election on March 15. According to a Telegram post by the Russian Embassy in North Korea, the robot greeted voters and assisted them by explaining the voting procedure.

Previously, China demonstrated humanoid robots performing coordinated dances, martial arts moves, and acrobatics at the Spring Festival Gala. The robots executed complex, synchronized routines without falling, highlighting significant progress over previous performances.