North Korea Unveils Suicide Drones In Test Overseen By Kim Jong Un

Kim Jong Un, North Korean leader, oversaw a recent performance test of newly developed drones, as reported by state media on KCNA Watch reported Monday.

The test, conducted by the Drone Institute under the Academy of Defence Sciences on August 24, aimed to evaluate the capabilities of these drones for military use, KCNA said.

The test involved drones designed for various military purposes, including ground and sea attacks. The drones were flown along pre-set routes, demonstrating their effectiveness in combat scenarios.

Kim Jong Un reportedly emphasized the need for diverse drone capabilities, including suicide drones for infantry and special operations, strategic reconnaissance drones, and multi-purpose attack drones.

Photos released by KCNA show pixelated white suicide attack drones striking and destroying mock targets resembling a South Korean K-2 tank. This marks the first time North Korea has revealed images of these types of weapons, as the North Korea Times pointed out.

KCNA stated that Kim urged the continued development of underwater weapons, such as nuclear torpedoes and unmanned underwater attack vehicles. He also called for the use of artificial intelligence in advancing drone technology and outlined the steps needed to achieve these goals.

Aljazeera reports that Pyongyang has increased its tactical warfare capabilities, focusing on short-range missiles and heavy artillery targeting South Korea, following significant progress in its long-range ballistic missile and nuclear programs, despite international sanctions.

The AP notes that the drone test occurred concurrently with the Ulchi Freedom Shield drills, a large-scale exercise being conducted by the United States and South Korean militaries. The drills will continue until Thursday.

The exercises, aimed at improving readiness against North Korean threats, include computer-simulated war games, live-fire training, and a three-day combined aerial drill involving 60 warplanes that began on Monday, AP said.