North Korea has reportedly been employing banned NVIDIA graphics cards, specifically the GeForce RTX 2700, to advance its artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities, according to a recent report by The Chosun Ilbo. The country’s AI programs are being applied to a range of activities, including cryptocurrency theft, deepfake production, and surveillance operations.

Banned Technology and Sanctions Violations

The use of NVIDIA GPUs by Pyongyang is particularly alarming because these high-performance graphics cards are subject to U.S. export controls and prohibited from being sent to North Korea. GPUs like the GeForce RTX 2700 are classified as dual-use technology, meaning they can be applied to civilian tasks such as AI research, as well as sensitive areas like cryptography and defense-related applications.

Despite these restrictions, North Korea has steadily advanced its AI capabilities over the past decades. While it is not yet utilizing the latest AI hardware, even mid-level GPUs provide substantial computational power, enabling operations that were previously impossible for the isolated country.

AI-Powered Cryptocurrency Theft

North Korea has shown significant interest in cryptocurrencies since 2017. Crypto theft has become a crucial tool for the country, allowing it to bypass international sanctions and generate untraceable revenue.

State-sponsored hacking groups, most notably Lazarus Group, are believed to be responsible for the majority of these attacks. The group is linked to the Reconnaissance General Bureau, North Korea’s military intelligence unit.

With AI integration, these cyber operations can now be scaled more efficiently. Advanced AI tools allow hackers to:

• Scan codebases for vulnerabilities in smart contracts.
• Automate the creation of convincing fake profiles for recruitment or phishing.
• Generate realistic messages and digital identities to deceive victims.

According to a 2025 report, North Korea–linked hackers are increasingly leveraging AI to identify and exploit security gaps in cryptocurrency exchanges, making them a growing threat in the digital finance world.

Implications

The use of restricted NVIDIA GPUs highlights the growing sophistication of North Korea’s AI and cyber operations, even under strict international sanctions. Analysts warn that these advancements could make crypto theft, digital espionage, and misinformation campaigns faster, more scalable, and harder to trace.

As North Korea continues to combine AI technology with state-backed hacking units, the international community faces new challenges in cybersecurity and sanctions enforcement.