JAKARTA - A toy-like robot with blue eyes and a North Korean flag on its chest paced around a classroom at a university in Pyongyang, during a recent demonstration of a device aimed at helping children learn basic math, music and English.
The footage, broadcast by North Korea's state television KRT, also shows two larger plastic robots, each with a vaguely human appearance.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has pushed for educational reforms in recent years by spurring scientific and technological innovation.
"I help teach educational technology that improves children's intelligence," the 80-centimeter (31.5-inch) tall robot said in a female voice, waving its hand, citing Reuters Nov. 3.
A second robot features an on-screen smiling face embedded within a white round head, while the other is wearing a blue plastic suit and white-rimmed glasses, KRT footage shows.
Park Kum Hee, a professor at a university in Pyongyang, told KRT the development of educational robots was initially challenging, with the robots frequently shaking their heads when asked questions in Korean and foreign languages.
"Improving the intelligence of this robot is difficult for me as someone who majored in psychology," said Park.
"It was the words of our respected Comrade General (Kim Jong-un) about adopting artificial intelligence technology in education that have always guided me on the right path," he continued.
KRT footage shows elementary school students wearing masks repeating robots in music, math and English classes.
"Hello? Nice to meet you. Nice to meet you too. What's your name?" two children said in English in front of the class.
North Korea reopened schools in June last year, but required children to wear masks in class and installed handwashing stations.
To note, North Korea has not officially reported a single case of the coronavirus, but has imposed strict anti-virus measures, including border closures and domestic travel restrictions, and experts say an outbreak there cannot be ruled out.
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