North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has overseen tests of newly developed reconnaissance and attack drones, emphasising their role in modern warfare and calling for increased production, state media reported on Thursday.
According to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), Kim observed the trials earlier this week and expressed satisfaction with their performance.
The agency released images showing Kim monitoring a reconnaissance drone, bearing a resemblance to Boeing's E-7 Wedgetail airborne warning and control aircraft, as well as footage of explosive drones crashing into military vehicles during live-fire exercises.
KCNA stated that the reconnaissance drone demonstrated its capability to track multiple targets and monitor troop movements both on land and at sea, potentially augmenting North Korea’s intelligence-gathering operations and combat preparedness.
The newly developed explosive drones, designed for various attack missions, reportedly incorporate unspecified Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology.
Kim described drones and AI as “top” priorities in North Korea’s military modernisation and approved expanded production plans to enhance his country's defence capabilities.
The tests were conducted during Kim’s visits to a drone technology complex and an electronic warfare research group on Tuesday and Wednesday. The South Korean defence ministry has yet to comment on the developments.
Also read: Kim Jong Un reaffirms support for Russia’s war in Ukraine
The latest demonstration follows similar tests conducted by North Korea in August and November last year, where Kim inspected attack drones designed to detonate upon impact.
Pyongyang has also accused Seoul of dispatching drones to drop anti-North Korean propaganda leaflets over Pyongyang, warning of retaliatory action if such incursions persist. South Korea’s military has refused to confirm the allegations.
Tensions on the Korean Peninsula have been escalating as North Korea continues its aggressive military expansion, including the development of nuclear-capable weapons targeting South Korea and intercontinental ballistic missiles capable of reaching the United States.
Kim’s growing alignment with Russian President Vladimir Putin over the war in Ukraine has also raised international concerns.
North Korea is believed to have dispatched military personnel and supplied munitions to Russia in exchange for technological advancements that could further enhance its nuclear and missile programmes.
South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff reported on Thursday that North Korea sent approximately 3,000 additional troops to Russia in January and February.
The report also claimed that Pyongyang has been supplying Russia with ammunition, short-range missiles, self-propelled howitzers, and multiple rocket launchers.
Of the estimated 11,000 North Korean troops sent to support Russia’s war efforts, approximately 4,000 are believed to have been killed or wounded, according to the Joint Chiefs’ assessment.
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