Pyongyang, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, 6 August 2026
The World Health Organization (WHO), in collaboration with the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH), convened a three-day technical webinar on “Leveraging Artificial Intelligence for Health Systems” from 4–6 August 2026. The webinar aimed to strengthen knowledge and capacity on the responsible, safe and context-appropriate use of artificial intelligence (AI) to support health-system strengthening in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.
The webinar brought together MoPH officials and technical experts, alongside specialists from WHO and experts from across the Region. Participants represented health policy and planning, health information and data systems, clinical services, public health and epidemiology. The programme combined evidence, regional experience and practical examples to explore how AI could contribute to national health priorities while ensuring appropriate governance, safety and human oversight.
Over three days, the discussions progressed from the foundations of AI to practical applications in health care. The first day focused on AI governance, regulation and trust, together with health data and digital infrastructure. The second day addressed workforce literacy, change management, responsible research and evidence generation. The final day showcased evidence-based applications of AI in primary, secondary and tertiary health-care settings.
Participants explored the potential of AI to support disease surveillance, diagnostics and screening, clinical decision-making, health information management and more efficient service delivery. Discussions highlighted opportunities relevant to the country context, including maternal and child health, tuberculosis, noncommunicable diseases, laboratory services and public health surveillance.
Practical experiences shared during the webinar demonstrated how AI is already being applied in different health-system settings. Examples included AI-supported telemedicine and clinical decision support, smartphone-based approaches for tuberculosis screening and newborn assessment, digital tools supporting frontline health workers, and AI applications in medical imaging and radiology. The sessions also emphasized that successful adoption depends not only on technology, but on workforce capacity, reliable and interoperable data, appropriate governance, clinical validation and integration into existing health-care workflows.
Representatives from DPR Korea actively engaged with the experts and shared experiences of the country's ongoing digital health transformation, including the use of AI-assisted tools for clinical diagnosis and interpretation of pathological imaging, radiological findings, thyroid ultrasound and electrocardiography. The webinar provided an opportunity to exchange regional experiences and consider their relevance to the national health system.
A key message emerging from the webinar was that AI should complement, rather than replace, health workers and strong health systems. Its introduction should respond to identified public health needs and be supported by reliable data, ethical safeguards, human oversight, local validation and continuous monitoring. Participants also recognized the importance of interoperability, common standards, secure data exchange and institutional coordination for sustainable AI adoption.
Looking ahead, WHO will continue to support the Ministry of Public Health in translating the learning from the webinar into practical and nationally appropriate next steps. Areas highlighted for further consideration include development of a strategic framework for AI in health, a phased approach to strengthening digital health foundations and interoperability, and continued capacity-building and regional knowledge exchange.
The webinar reflects WHO’s continued commitment to supporting DPR Korea in strengthening digital health capacity and exploring the responsible use of emerging technologies to improve equitable access, quality and efficiency of health services.