North Korea’s leader, Kim Jong Un, has been actively supervising the testing of his country’s latest military technologies, which incorporate artificial intelligence. This involves examining newly developed suicide and reconnaissance drones, and highlighting the importance of unmanned aircraft and artificial intelligence in military modernization plans. According to the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), Kim has ordered for an increase in production of “unmanned equipment and artificial intelligence”, marking a step forward in the development of “intelligent drones” to match modern warfare trends.

The tests, held on Tuesday and Wednesday, have shown the new North Korean drones capable of tracking and monitoring various enemy activities on land and sea. The attack drones, now equipped with advanced AI, are designed for tactical attack missions as well. Photographs from the trials reveal successful strikes by these drones on ground targets, including military vehicles.

In images released by KCNA, Kim is seen inspecting a newly developed unmanned aerial reconnaissance aircraft, suggesting North Korea’s first official unveiling of such an aircraft, which bears resemblance to models operated by the South Korean air force. This development follows previous analyses using commercial satellite imagery, indicating Pyongyang’s efforts to create early warning aircraft by modifying a Russian-made Il-76 cargo plane.

During his visit to the test site, Kim received briefings on the latest developments in intelligence-gathering, electronic jamming, and attack systems created by North Korea’s electronic warfare group. Concerns have been raised regarding the potential exchange of sensitive Russian military technology for North Korean support in Russia’s conflict in Ukraine, including troops, missiles, and other ammunition. The South Korean military reports that an additional 3,000 North Korean troops were sent to bolster Russian forces between January and February, with casualties reported among the initial 11,000 troops dispatched in 2024. The supply of military equipment and weaponry to Russia by North Korea continues to be monitored.

Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/3/27/north-koreas-kim-jong-un-oversees-tests-of-new-ai-equipped-suicide-drones?traffic_source=rss