The government of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK, also referred to by many as “North Korea”) realized the importance of Information and Computing Technology (ICT) and began to establish a master plan for ICT adoption after Kim Il Sung toured eight countries in Eastern Europe in 1984. Kim determined that electronics-related high technology was key to national economic development, and technical cooperation contracts were signed with many of the countries he visited. Moreover, DPRK students were sent to those countries to learn modern technologies. In 1988, a three-year plan for the promotion of science and technology began, and the government began to provide massive funding for information science and industry. In addition, through the International Cooperation Bureau of the State Commission of Science and Technology, the DPRK has been seeking help from UN organizations such as the United Nations Development Program and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization. Also, the DPRK signed an MoU with the International Institute for Software Technology of United Nations University on a joint effort for software development. The DPRK has been stressing software sectors more than hardware sectors due to its poor economic situation and various restrictions (such as those imposed by the Wassenaar Agreement, COCOM, and EAR) on the importation of advanced equipment. The software industry does not require a large amount of capital but instead requires good human brains and creativity. In general, young people in the DPRK are very strong in mathematics and basic sciences. In this presentation, the general education system in the DPRK will be briefly described, and this will be followed by a detailed discussion of several aspects of ICT education in the DPRK, including education in secondary schools for gifted students, the establishment of computer technology universities, and ICT education at prestigious universities and research institutions including KISU(Kim Il Sung University), KUT(Kim-Chaek University of Technology), PUST(Pyongyang University of Science and Technology), KCC(Korea Computer Center) and PIC(Pyongyang Informatics Center). The level of software technology in the DPRK is nearly on a par with that of Western countries. The Silver Star Go game developed in 1997 won the first prize in the global computer Go game competition held in Japan in 1998. Since then, the DPRK has won first prize several years in a row. The DPRK government initiated many programs to encourage and improve the DPRK’s software capability. Some of the software products developed in earlier days will be presented, together with those displayed at the DPRK Computer Software Seminar being held in Beijing, China in April, 2002. After the historic meeting of Kim Dae-jung and Kim Jong Il in June 2000, inter-Korean collaborations in ICT, in particular those involving technology, had become quite active until the South Korean government halted collaborations on May 24, 2010. Some examples of inter-Korean projects will be described. Finally, a brief introduction to Pyongyang University of Science and Technology and its role in nurturing skilled graduates with global mindsets, in order to lead the DPRK into the era of the 4th Industrial Revolution, will be presented.

Dr. Chan-Mo Park was the 4th President of Pohang University of Science & Technology (POSTECH). After retiring from POSTECH in 2007 Prof. Park served as a Special Advisor on S & T to the President of Republic of Korea (ROK) before he assumed a Chancellor position with Pyongyang University of Science & Technology (PUST), a unique private and international university in DPRK since October, 2010. Prof. Park received his B.S. degree from Seoul National University and M.S. and Ph.D. degrees from University of Maryland, College Park. He earned an Honorary Doctor of Letters degree from the University of Maryland University College in 2001 in recognition of his scholarly achievements and distinguished service.

Dr. Park’s experience includes professorships in Computer Science both in U.S.A. and Korea. His research interests are Computer Graphics, Virtual Reality, System Simulation and Science Diplomacy. For the past several years, he has been involved with research activities concerning IT development in DPRK including a joint research with Pyongyang Informatics Centre (PIC) for 7 years. Dr. Park was decorated by ROK with the National Order of Camellia in 1986 for his contributions to the advancement of S & T in Korea and received the Teacher of the Year Award from The Catholic University of America in 1987. In June, 2005 he was decorated by ROK with the Blue Stripes Order of Service Merit for his contributions on IT development in Korea and collaborations with DPRK. Prof. Park also received the International Alumnus Award from the University of Maryland, College Park in April, 2009 for providing significant leadership to another country’s educational, cultural, social and economic development. In November, 2018 Chancellor Park received the Dosan Education Award from Dosan Academy in Seoul, Korea for his contribution to the Advancement of Science and Technology in Korea, Manpower development and Inter-Korean Collaboration on Information Technology.