<p>A toy-like robot with scowling blue eyes and a North Korean flag across its chest roams around a classroom at a university in Pyongyang in a recent demonstration of tools aimed at helping children learn basic maths, music and English.</p>.<p>The footage, broadcast by North Korean state television <em>KRT</em>, also showed two other larger plastic robots, each with a vaguely humanoid appearance.</p>.<p>North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has been pushing for education reform in recent years by spurring technological and scientific innovation.</p>.<p>"I help teach educational technology that enhances children's intelligence," said the 80-centimetre tall robot in a female voice, waving its arms.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/business/technology/dont-look-now-how-a-robots-gaze-can-affect-the-human-brain-1026083.html" target="_blank">Don't look now: How a robot's gaze can affect the human brain</a></strong></p>.<p>A second robot featured a smiley face on a screen embedded inside a white round head, while another wore a blue plastic suit and white-rimmed glasses, the <em>KRT</em> footage showed.</p>.<p>Park Kum Hee, a professor at a university in Pyongyang, told <em>KRT</em> that the development of the educational robots had its challenges initially, with the robots often shaking their heads when asked questions in both Korean and foreign languages.</p>.<p>"Upgrading this robot's intelligence was difficult for me as someone who majored in psychology," said Park.</p>.<p>"It was the words of our respected Comrade General Secretary (Kim Jong Un) on adopting artificial intelligence technology in education that has always guided me on the right track."</p>.<p>The KRT footage showed primary school students wearing masks repeating after the robot in music, math and English class.</p>.<p>"Hello? Nice to meet you. Nice to meet you, too. What's your name?" said two children in English at the front of the class.</p>.<p>North Korea reopened schools in June of last year, but made it mandatory for children to wear masks in classes and washing stations were installed.</p>.<p>The reclusive country has not officially reported a single coronavirus case, but it has imposed strict anti-virus measures, including border closures and domestic travel curbs, and experts have said an outbreak there cannot be ruled out.</p>.<p><strong>Check out latest DH videos here</strong></p>
<p>A toy-like robot with scowling blue eyes and a North Korean flag across its chest roams around a classroom at a university in Pyongyang in a recent demonstration of tools aimed at helping children learn basic maths, music and English.</p>.<p>The footage, broadcast by North Korean state television <em>KRT</em>, also showed two other larger plastic robots, each with a vaguely humanoid appearance.</p>.<p>North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has been pushing for education reform in recent years by spurring technological and scientific innovation.</p>.<p>"I help teach educational technology that enhances children's intelligence," said the 80-centimetre tall robot in a female voice, waving its arms.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/business/technology/dont-look-now-how-a-robots-gaze-can-affect-the-human-brain-1026083.html" target="_blank">Don't look now: How a robot's gaze can affect the human brain</a></strong></p>.<p>A second robot featured a smiley face on a screen embedded inside a white round head, while another wore a blue plastic suit and white-rimmed glasses, the <em>KRT</em> footage showed.</p>.<p>Park Kum Hee, a professor at a university in Pyongyang, told <em>KRT</em> that the development of the educational robots had its challenges initially, with the robots often shaking their heads when asked questions in both Korean and foreign languages.</p>.<p>"Upgrading this robot's intelligence was difficult for me as someone who majored in psychology," said Park.</p>.<p>"It was the words of our respected Comrade General Secretary (Kim Jong Un) on adopting artificial intelligence technology in education that has always guided me on the right track."</p>.<p>The KRT footage showed primary school students wearing masks repeating after the robot in music, math and English class.</p>.<p>"Hello? Nice to meet you. Nice to meet you, too. What's your name?" said two children in English at the front of the class.</p>.<p>North Korea reopened schools in June of last year, but made it mandatory for children to wear masks in classes and washing stations were installed.</p>.<p>The reclusive country has not officially reported a single coronavirus case, but it has imposed strict anti-virus measures, including border closures and domestic travel curbs, and experts have said an outbreak there cannot be ruled out.</p>.<p><strong>Check out latest DH videos here</strong></p>