North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has overseen tests of AI-enabled suicide drones and reconnaissance drones, highlighting the country’s advancing military capabilities. According to state media KCNA on Thursday, Kim emphasised the importance of prioritising unmanned equipment and artificial intelligence in the modernization of North Korea’s armed forces.
During the inspections, Kim reviewed upgraded reconnaissance drones designed to track targets on land and sea, as well as newly unveiled airborne early-warning (AEW) aircraft, which enhance North Korea’s existing land-based radar systems. Photographs published by KCNA showed Kim examining a large four-engine aircraft equipped with a radar dome, believed to be a modified Russian Il-76 cargo plane.
“The ability of an AEW aircraft to look down mitigates some of the challenges of the terrain and ground-clutter returns to track low-flying aircraft and cruise missiles,” the report noted. Additionally, KCNA showcased tests of attack drones, with images depicting unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) striking targets.
Following a visit to a drone technology complex and an electronic warfare research unit, where the tests were conducted, Kim reiterated his commitment to advancing North Korea’s military technology.
Concerns regarding North Korea’s involvement in Russia’s war in Ukraine have increased, with South Korean national security adviser Shin Won-sik revealing in November that Russia had supplied Pyongyang with anti-air missiles and air defense systems in exchange for military assistance. North Korean troops reportedly participating in the conflict are believed to be acquiring valuable drone warfare experience.
On Thursday, South Korea’s military reported that North Korea had dispatched an additional 3,000 troops as reinforcements between January and February to support Russia’s efforts in Ukraine. According to South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff, of the 11,000 North Korean soldiers initially sent to Russia, approximately 4,000 have been killed or injured in the ongoing conflict.
Source : DW
