North Korea Unveils AI-Powered 'Suicide Attack Drones' in Military Modernization Push

North Korea leader Kim Jong Un supervises test of AI suicide drones, KCNA says

SEOUL, March 27 (Reuters) - North Korean leader Kim Jong Un supervised the test of suicide drones with artificial intelligence (AI) technology and said unmanned control and AI capability must be the top priorities in modern arms development, state media reported on Thursday. Kim also inspected new upgraded reconnaissance drones that are capable of detecting various tactical targets and enemy activities on land and at sea, KCNA state news agency said. "Kim Jong Un said unmanned equipment and artificial intelligence technology must be top priorities in weapons modernisation," KCNA said. He stressed the importance of promoting a concerted longer-term national programme to be at the forefront of accelerating competition of intelligent unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for military use, KCNA said. North Korea has made a strong push to develop drones including kamikaze munitions. The project is suspected to be part of the growing military cooperation between the North and Russia over the past year. North Korean troops deployed in Russia's war against Ukraine are believed to have been in engaged in drone warfare, gaining valuable battleground experience. Reporting by Jack Kim; Editing by Leslie Adler and Stephen Coates Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab Suggested Topics:Artificial Intelligence

Kim observes tests of North Korea's new reconnaissance and attack drones

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) -- North Korean leader Kim Jong Un observed tests of newly developed reconnaissance and attack drones this week and called for their increased production, state media said Thursday. Kim has been emphasizing the development of drones, and the tests were the latest display of his country's growing military capabilities. Photos released by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency showed Kim observing what appeared to be a large reconnaissance drone roughly resembling Boeing's E-7 Wedgetail airborne warning and control aircraft. Other images showed exploding drones crashing into military vehicles used as targets. The agency said the test demonstrated the reconnaissance drone's ability to track multiple targets and monitor troop movements on land and at sea, potentially enhancing North Korea's intelligence-gathering operations and ability to neutralize enemy threats. The report said the new exploding drones are designed for various attack missions and feature unspecified artificial intelligence capabilities. Kim expressed satisfaction with the drones' performance and approved plans to expand production, emphasizing that drones and AI should be "top" priorities in efforts to advance his armed forces and adapt them to modern warfare, KCNA said. The agency said the tests took place as Kim visited a drone technology complex and an electronic warfare research group on Tuesday and Wednesday. South Korea's Defense Ministry didn't immediately comment on the North Korean report. Kim previously inspected other demonstrations of drones that explode on impact in November and August last year. North Korea also last year accused South Korea of sending its own drones to drop anti-North Korean propaganda leaflets over the North's capital of Pyongyang, and threatened to respond with force if such flights occur again. South Korea's military refused to confirm whether or not the North's claims were true. Tensions on the Korean Peninsula have escalated recently as Kim continues to expand his military capabilities, which now includes various nuclear-capable weapons targeting South Korea and intercontinental ballistic missiles potentially capable of reaching the U.S. mainland. Kim is also aligning with Russian President Vladimir Putin over the war in Ukraine, sending troops and military equipment to support Russia's efforts. This has raised concerns that he may receive Russian technology transfers in return, further strengthening the threat posed by his nuclear-armed military.

North Korea's Kim Jong Un inspects AI 'suicide attack drones'

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has been pictured inspecting new suicide drones, which state media say have been equipped with artificial intelligence (AI). The undated images released by the secretive state's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) show Kim flanked by officials on a runway inspecting a drone. Kim agreed to a plan for expanding production of the equipment, KCNA added. Analysts have said the development of the technology was likely assisted by Russia, which North Korea has supported recently by sending its soldiers to help with Moscow's war in Ukraine.

North Korea claims to have made 'suicide attack drones' that use AI

Kim Jong Un's regime is trying to update its weapons capabilities, as its soldiers learn about modern warfare in Russia's war against Ukraine. SEOUL -- North Korea has showcased what it claims are "suicide attack drones" powered by artificial intelligence, a move to update its weapons capabilities as its soldiers reportedly gain front-line experience in Ukraine with modern warfare technologies. Leader Kim Jong Un called for North Korea to produce more reconnaissance and attack drones and said developing unmanned control and AI capability will be a top priority for the nation's military, state media reported. While North Korea's latest claims could not be independently verified, its ambitions should be taken seriously, as Kim has made it clear he is prioritizing these types of weapons, said Cha Du-hyeogn, a former South Korean intelligence adviser who is now a North Korea analyst at the Asan Institute for Policy Studies in Seoul. "North Korea is realizing the need for not only nuclear weapons, but also modernized capabilities in large-scale warfare, like AI and unmanned systems," Cha said. "There is a risk that these could become actual combat capabilities in a relatively short period of time." Lawmakers in Seoul were also concerned. "North Korea is completely transforming itself by upgrading its weapons systems for modern warfare based on its experiences in the war in Ukraine, and by copying military technologies from countries like China and Russia," Yoo Yong-won, who sits on the National Defense Committee, told local media on Friday. Pyongyang on Thursday claimed to have developed a "new-type strategic reconnaissance drone" that can track and monitor various targets and troop activity on land and at sea. State media released photos of Kim inspecting a large reconnaissance drone on a runway and of other drones crashing into ground targets. The large drone in the photograph is a model similar to the American surveillance aircraft, the RQ-4 Global Hawk, experts say. North Korea first introduced this type of drone at a weapons exhibition in Pyongyang in 2023. In addition, it showed for the first time an airborne early-warning and control aircraft, which would allow North Korea to manage air and ground operations simultaneously in real-time. Kim stressed the importance of "keeping with the trend of modern warfare in which the competition for using intelligent drones as a major means of military power is being accelerated and the range of their use is steadily expanding in military activities," according to the Korean Central News Agency report. North Korea did not specify what AI technology is used in its new suicide attack drones or when it plans to ramp up production. It's questionable whether these alleged new capabilities can be deployed or mass-produced any time soon, Cha said. For example, suicide attack drones are typically small and easy to maneuver, need to go undetected, and be produced in large quantities. But North Korea has not yet shown evidence that it has mastered such technologies, let alone incorporated AI technologies that can detect air defense systems, he said. North Korea in recent months has been emphasizing its reconnaissance drone technology, which is a key component of Kim's military modernization plan. Kim has been pushing to mass-produce suicide drones. The apparent advancements have raised concerns among Ukrainian and South Korean officials that Russia may be providing relevant technologies to Pyongyang in return for North Korean soldiers being deployed to support Moscow in its war against Ukraine. Lee Sung-joon, spokesman for the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff, said that the drone looked "large and heavy and probably susceptible to interception." The drone in the new photos appeared to be modified versions of an existing fleet, and "Russia may have had something to do with the internal systems and parts," Lee said Thursday. North Korea appears to have deployed about 3,000 additional soldiers as reinforcements for Russian troops in January and February, the South Korean military said this week. North Korea already sent some 12,000 troops to Russia's Kursk region last fall, according to estimates from South Korean, Ukrainian and U.S. officials. Ukrainian troops invaded Kursk in August and have been holding on to a sliver of territory there. Ukrainian troops in Kursk said last month that they were facing renewed assaults by North Korean troops. North Korea is continuing to send missiles, artillery equipment and ammunition to support Russia, including short-range ballistic missiles, 170mm self-propelled guns and 240mm multiple rocket launchers, South Korea said.

North Korea moves to 'prioritise AI' with suicide drone

North Korea has unveiled a swarm of intelligence-controlled suicide drones in its race to modernise the armed forces through AI technology. Pyongyang released photos on Thursday of the drones striking ground targets, including a tank, and revealed its first early-warning aircraft. Overseeing the event, Kim Jong-un, the North Korean leader, told state media: "The field of unmanned equipment and artificial intelligence should be top-prioritised and developed in modernising the armed forces." Wearing a brown leather jacket, the dictator inspected upgraded reconnaissance UAVs, reportedly capable of identifying tactical targets and enemy activities on land and at sea.

Kim observes tests of North Korea's new reconnaissance and attack drones

SEOUL, South Korea -- North Korean leader Kim Jong Un observed tests of newly developed reconnaissance and attack drones this week and called for their increased production, state media said Thursday. Kim has been emphasizing the development of drones, and the tests were the latest display of his country's growing military capabilities. Photos released by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency showed Kim observing what appeared to be a large reconnaissance drone roughly resembling Boeing's E-7 Wedgetail airborne warning and control aircraft. Other images showed exploding drones crashing into military vehicles used as targets. The agency said the test demonstrated the reconnaissance drone's ability to track multiple targets and monitor troop movements on land and at sea, potentially enhancing North Korea's intelligence-gathering operations and ability to neutralize enemy threats. The report said the new exploding drones were designed for various attack missions and featured unspecified artificial intelligence capabilities. Kim expressed satisfaction with the drones' performance and approved plans to expand production, emphasizing that drones and AI should be "top" priorities in efforts to advance his armed forces and adapt them to modern warfare, KCNA said. The agency said the tests took place as Kim visited a drone technology complex and an electronic warfare research group on Tuesday and Wednesday. The South Korean Defense Ministry did not immediately comment on the North Korean report. Kim previously inspected other demonstrations of drones that explode on impact in November and August last year. North Korea also accused South Korea last year of sending its own drones to drop anti-North Korean propaganda leaflets over the North's capital of Pyongyang, and threatened to respond with force if such flights occurred again. The South Korean military did not confirm whether the North's claims were true. Tensions on the Korean Peninsula have escalated recently as Kim continues to expand his military capabilities, which now include various nuclear-capable weapons targeting South Korea and intercontinental ballistic missiles potentially capable of reaching the U.S. mainland. Kim is also aligning with Russian President Vladimir Putin over the war in Ukraine, sending troops and military equipment to support Russia's efforts. This has raised concerns that he may receive Russian technology transfers in return, further strengthening the threat posed by his nuclear-armed military. South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a report Thursday that it believes North Korea sent around 3,000 additional troops to Russia in January and February and has continued supplying ammunition, short-range missiles, self-propelled howitzers, and multiple rocket launchers. The Joint Chiefs assessed that, of the approximately 11,000 North Korean troops sent to fight in the war against Ukraine, around 4,000 have been killed or injured.

Kim observes tests of North Korea's new reconnaissance and attack drones

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) -- North Korean leader Kim Jong Un observed tests of newly developed reconnaissance and attack drones this week and called for their increased production, state media said Thursday. Kim has been emphasizing the development of drones, and the tests were the latest display of his country's growing military capabilities. Photos released by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency showed Kim observing what appeared to be a large reconnaissance drone roughly resembling Boeing's E-7 Wedgetail airborne warning and control aircraft. Other images showed exploding drones crashing into military vehicles used as targets. The agency said the test demonstrated the reconnaissance drone's ability to track multiple targets and monitor troop movements on land and at sea, potentially enhancing North Korea's intelligence-gathering operations and ability to neutralize enemy threats. The report said the new exploding drones are designed for various attack missions and feature unspecified artificial intelligence capabilities. Kim expressed satisfaction with the drones' performance and approved plans to expand production, emphasizing that drones and AI should be "top" priorities in efforts to advance his armed forces and adapt them to modern warfare, KCNA said. The agency said the tests took place as Kim visited a drone technology complex and an electronic warfare research group on Tuesday and Wednesday. South Korea's Defense Ministry didn't immediately comment on the North Korean report. Kim previously inspected other demonstrations of drones that explode on impact in November and August last year. North Korea also last year accused South Korea of sending its own drones to drop anti-North Korean propaganda leaflets over the North's capital of Pyongyang, and threatened to respond with force if such flights occur again. South Korea's military refused to confirm whether or not the North's claims were true. Tensions on the Korean Peninsula have escalated recently as Kim continues to expand his military capabilities, which now includes various nuclear-capable weapons targeting South Korea and intercontinental ballistic missiles potentially capable of reaching the U.S. mainland. Kim is also aligning with Russian President Vladimir Putin over the war in Ukraine, sending troops and military equipment to support Russia's efforts. This has raised concerns that he may receive Russian technology transfers in return, further strengthening the threat posed by his nuclear-armed military.

North Korea Leader Kim Jong Un Supervises Test of AI Suicide Drones, KCNA Says

SEOUL (Reuters) - North Korean leader Kim Jong Un supervised the test of suicide drones with artificial intelligence (AI) technology and said unmanned control and AI capability must be the top priorities in modern arms development, state media reported on Thursday. Kim also inspected new upgraded reconnaissance drones that are capable of detecting various tactical targets and enemy activities on land and at sea, KCNA state news agency said. "Kim Jong Un said unmanned equipment and artificial intelligence technology must be top priorities in weapons modernisation," KCNA said. He stressed the importance of promoting a concerted longer-term national programme to be at the forefront of accelerating competition of intelligent unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for military use, KCNA said. North Korea has made a strong push to develop drones including kamikaze munitions. The project is suspected to be part of the growing military cooperation between the North and Russia over the past year. North Korean troops deployed in Russia's war against Ukraine are believed to have been in engaged in drone warfare, gaining valuable battleground experience. (Reporting by Jack Kim; Editing by Leslie Adler and Stephen Coates)

Kim Observes Tests of North Korea's New Reconnaissance and Attack Drones

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) -- North Korean leader Kim Jong Un observed tests of newly developed reconnaissance and attack drones this week and called for their increased production, state media said Thursday. Kim has been emphasizing the development of drones, and the tests were the latest display of his country's growing military capabilities. Photos released by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency showed Kim observing what appeared to be a large reconnaissance drone roughly resembling Boeing's E-7 Wedgetail airborne warning and control aircraft. Other images showed exploding drones crashing into military vehicles used as targets. The agency said the test demonstrated the reconnaissance drone's ability to track multiple targets and monitor troop movements on land and at sea, potentially enhancing North Korea's intelligence-gathering operations and ability to neutralize enemy threats. The report said the new exploding drones are designed for various attack missions and feature unspecified artificial intelligence capabilities. Kim expressed satisfaction with the drones' performance and approved plans to expand production, emphasizing that drones and AI should be "top" priorities in efforts to advance his armed forces and adapt them to modern warfare, KCNA said. The agency said the tests took place as Kim visited a drone technology complex and an electronic warfare research group on Tuesday and Wednesday. South Korea's Defense Ministry didn't immediately comment on the North Korean report. Kim previously inspected other demonstrations of drones that explode on impact in November and August last year. North Korea also last year accused South Korea of sending its own drones to drop anti-North Korean propaganda leaflets over the North's capital of Pyongyang, and threatened to respond with force if such flights occur again. South Korea's military refused to confirm whether or not the North's claims were true. Tensions on the Korean Peninsula have escalated recently as Kim continues to expand his military capabilities, which now includes various nuclear-capable weapons targeting South Korea and intercontinental ballistic missiles potentially capable of reaching the U.S. mainland. Kim is also aligning with Russian President Vladimir Putin over the war in Ukraine, sending troops and military equipment to support Russia's efforts. This has raised concerns that he may receive Russian technology transfers in return, further strengthening the threat posed by his nuclear-armed military. South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a report Thursday that it believes North Korea sent around 3,000 additional troops to Russia in January and February and has continued supplying ammunition, short-range missiles, self-propelled howitzers, and multiple rocket launchers. The Joint Chiefs assessed that, of the approximately 11,000 North Korean troops sent to fight in the war against Ukraine, around 4,000 have been killed or injured. Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

North Korea's Kim supervises test of AI suicide drones

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un supervised the test of suicide drones with artificial intelligence technology and said unmanned control and AI capability must be the top priorities in modern arms development, state media reported on Thursday. Kim inspected new upgraded reconnaissance drones that are capable of detecting various tactical targets and enemy activities on land and at sea, the KCNA state news agency said. "The field of unmanned equipment and artificial intelligence should be top-prioritized and developed in modernizing the armed forces," KCNA quoted Kim as saying.

North Korea showcases AI-powered suicide drones and early-warning aircraft

The latest news on North Korea. The country has showcased its latest military advancements, featuring AI-driven suicide drones and an airborne early-warning aircraft, marking a significant leap in its defense capabilities. Leader Kim Jong Un emphasized the strategic importance of unmanned systems and artificial intelligence in modern warfare, overseeing demonstrations of reconnaissance drones capable of detecting and engaging enemy targets. The unveiling of an early-warning aircraft, reportedly adapted from Russian-made Il-76 cargo planes, suggests a concerted effort to enhance Pyongyang's air defense capabilities, surveillance reach, and strategic deterrence despite technological and resource constraints.

N. Korea's Kim oversees test of AI-powered 'suicide attack drones'

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un watches a suicide attack drone equipped with artificial intelligence technology taking off at an unidentified test site during his visit, in this photo released by the Korean Central News Agency. Yonhap North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has supervised performance tests of "suicide attack drones" equipped with artificial intelligence (AI) technology, directing their development as a long-term project in line with trends in modern warfare, the North's state media reported Thursday. Kim gave the instruction while guiding defense science research projects of the Unmanned Aeronautical Technology Complex and the detective electronic warfare research group Tuesday and Wednesday, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said. Kim "made an important evaluation of the military effectiveness and strategic value of the strategic reconnaissance drone with improved performance and the suicide attack drones with the introduction of new artificial intelligence," according to the KCNA report. "Proved at the test was the innovative performance of a new-type strategic reconnaissance drone with the detective ability capable of tracking and monitoring different strategic targets and enemy troops' activities on the ground and the sea," the KCNA said. The report also said the tests "fully demonstrated ... the striking capability of suicide drones" for use in various tactical attack missions. "Our special means developed with up-to-date technology would play a big role in monitoring the potential threats and collecting vital intelligence," he also said, stressing they would enhance "our army's capability of conducting various kinds of intelligence-gathering operations and neutralizing the enemy's combat means of various missions." Kim stressed the unmanned equipment and AI fields should be "top-prioritized," emphasizing, "It is important to correctly shape the state long-term plan for promoting the rapid long-term development of them in keeping with the trend of modern warfare. (Yonhap)

N. Korea releases photos of what appears to be airborne control aircraft

This photo shows a North Korean airplane similar to the South Korean Air Force's airborne early warning and control aircraft, released by the Korean Central News Agency, March 27. Yonhap North Korea on Thursday disclosed what appears to be an airborne early warning and control aircraft for the first time and said leader Kim Jong-un supervised tests of "suicide attack drones" equipped with artificial intelligence (AI) technology. The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) published photos of the airplane while reporting Kim supervised performance tests of drones with AI technology and a reconnaissance drone Tuesday and Wednesday. Kim oversaw the tests while guiding defense science research projects of the Unmanned Aeronautical Technology Complex and the detective electronic warfare research group. Photos showed Kim instructing military officials inside what appears to be an airborne early warning and control aircraft, similar to the Peace Eye, which is operated by the South Korean Air Force and produced by Boeing. An airborne early warning system detects aircraft and vessels using radar, acting as "eyes in the sky." The KCNA also released photos of the suicide drone test, showing the AI-powered drones successfully hitting ground targets, including a tank. During the inspection, Kim "made an important evaluation of the military effectiveness and strategic value of the strategic reconnaissance drone with improved performance and the suicide attack drones with the introduction of new artificial intelligence," the KCNA said. Kim stressed the unmanned equipment and AI fields should be "top-prioritized," emphasizing, "It is important to correctly shape the state long-term plan for promoting the rapid long-term development of them in keeping with the trend of modern warfare." The report also said the tests "fully demonstrated ... the striking capability of suicide drones" for use in various tactical attack missions. The surveillance aircraft unveiled Thursday appears to be Russia's Ilyushin Il-76 airlifter, topped with a radome -- a weatherproof enclosure that protects radar antennas and conceals the electronic equipment. Radars mounted on airborne early warning and control aircraft are bigger than those on other military jets and more efficient in detecting enemy activities across a wider range. North Korea's state media only published the aircraft photos, without making any reference to it in its written reports, presumably because it was not developed through indigenous technology but apparently with overseas assistance. This image, published by the Korean Central News Agency on March 27, shows North Korean leader Kim Jong-un speaking to officials aboard an airplane similar to the South Korean Air Force's airborne early warning and control aircraft. Yonhap South Korea's military said further analysis is needed on the aircraft's utility. "New assessment is required on the normal operations and utility of the modified early warning aircraft unveiled today," Col. Lee Sung-jun, spokesperson of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said in a briefing. "As you can see, it is very bulky and assessed to be vulnerable to interception." When asked about possible Russian technological assistance for the aircraft, Lee said the military believes the plane's internal components and equipment are likely linked to Russia. "The aircraft itself is a modification of (a plane) North Korea already possessed," he said. North Korea has been scrambling to bolster its reconnaissance capabilities by developing and upgrading reconnaissance satellites and drones, an area where it lags far behind South Korea and its ally, the United States. Kim had also overseen tests of suicide attack drones in August and November last year, emphasizing drone technology, a move apparently related to the Russia-Ukraine war, where drones are playing a major role. North Korean troops are believed to be gaining real combat experience from the war, having deployed thousands of troops in support of the Russian side. The KCNA also reported Kim expressed satisfaction with the "new electronic jamming and attack weapon systems" under production, quoting him as saying that the stages of the party's line of modernizing the army are being "qualitatively attained." Kim presented "the scientific and practical orientation and ways" to accelerate the "qualitative and quantitative" transformation in the development and production of unmanned weapons and equipment, although the KCNA did not elaborate. (Yonhap)

Kim observes tests of North Korea's new reconnaissance and attack drones | BreakingNews.ie

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un observed tests of newly developed reconnaissance and attack drones this week and called for their increased production, state media said. Mr Kim has been emphasising the development of drones, and the tests were the latest display of his country's growing military capabilities. Photos released by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on Thursday showed Mr Kim observing what appeared to be a large reconnaissance drone roughly resembling Boeing's E-7 Wedgetail airborne warning and control aircraft. Other images showed exploding drones crashing into military vehicles used as targets. The agency said the test demonstrated the reconnaissance drone's ability to track multiple targets and monitor troop movements on land and at sea, potentially enhancing North Korea's intelligence-gathering operations and ability to neutralise enemy threats. The report said the new exploding drones are designed for various attack missions and feature unspecified artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities. Mr Kim expressed satisfaction with the drones' performance and approved plans to expand production, emphasising that drones and AI should be "top" priorities in efforts to advance his armed forces and adapt them to modern warfare, KCNA said. The agency said the tests took place as Mr Kim visited a drone technology complex and an electronic warfare research group on Tuesday and Wednesday. South Korea's Defence Ministry did not immediately comment on the North Korean report. Mr Kim previously inspected other demonstrations of drones that explode on impact in November and August last year. North Korea also last year accused South Korea of sending its own drones to drop anti-North Korean propaganda leaflets over the North's capital of Pyongyang, and threatened to respond with force if such flights occur again. South Korea's military refused to confirm whether or not the North's claims were true. Tensions on the Korean Peninsula have escalated recently as Mr Kim continues to expand his military capabilities, which now include various nuclear-capable weapons targeting South Korea and intercontinental ballistic missiles potentially capable of reaching the US mainland. Mr Kim is also aligning with Russian President Vladimir Putin over the war in Ukraine, sending troops and military equipment to support Russia's efforts. This has raised concerns that he may receive Russian technology transfers in return, further strengthening the threat posed by his nuclear-armed military.

North Korea leader Kim Jong Un supervises test of AI suicide drones, KCNA says

SEOUL (Reuters) - North Korean leader Kim Jong Un supervised the test of suicide drones with artificial intelligence (AI) technology and said unmanned control and AI capability must be the top priorities in modern arms development, state media reported on Thursday. Kim also inspected new upgraded reconnaissance drones that are capable of detecting various tactical targets and enemy activities on land and at sea, KCNA state news agency said. "Kim Jong Un said unmanned equipment and artificial intelligence technology must be top priorities in weapons modernisation," KCNA said. He stressed the importance of promoting a concerted longer-term national programme to be at the forefront of accelerating competition of intelligent unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for military use, KCNA said. North Korea has made a strong push to develop drones including kamikaze munitions. The project is suspected to be part of the growing military cooperation between the North and Russia over the past year. North Korean troops deployed in Russia's war against Ukraine are believed to have been in engaged in drone warfare, gaining valuable battleground experience. (Reporting by Jack Kim; Editing by Leslie Adler and Stephen Coates)

Kim observes tests of North Korea's new reconnaissance and attack drones

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) -- North Korean leader Kim Jong Un observed tests of newly developed reconnaissance and attack drones this week and called for their increased production, state media said Thursday. Kim has been emphasising the development of drones, and the tests were the latest display of his country's growing military capabilities. Photos released by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency showed Kim observing what appeared to be a large reconnaissance drone roughly resembling Boeing's E-7 Wedgetail airborne warning and control aircraft. Other images showed exploding drones crashing into military vehicles used as targets. The agency said the test demonstrated the reconnaissance drone's ability to track multiple targets and monitor troop movements on land and at sea, potentially enhancing North Korea's intelligence-gathering operations and ability to neutralise enemy threats. The report said the new exploding drones are designed for various attack missions and feature unspecified artificial intelligence capabilities. Kim expressed satisfaction with the drones' performance and approved plans to expand production, emphasizing that drones and AI should be "top" priorities in efforts to advance his armed forces and adapt them to modern warfare, KCNA said. The agency said the tests took place as Kim visited a drone technology complex and an electronic warfare research group on Tuesday and Wednesday. South Korea's Defense Ministry didn't immediately comment on the North Korean report. Kim previously inspected other demonstrations of drones that explode on impact in November and August last year. North Korea also last year accused South Korea of sending its own drones to drop anti-North Korean propaganda leaflets over the North's capital of Pyongyang, and threatened to respond with force if such flights occur again. South Korea's military refused to confirm whether or not the North's claims were true. Tensions on the Korean Peninsula have escalated recently as Kim continues to expand his military capabilities, which now includes various nuclear-capable weapons targeting South Korea and intercontinental ballistic missiles potentially capable of reaching the US mainland. Kim is also aligning with Russian President Vladimir Putin over the war in Ukraine, sending troops and military equipment to support Russia's efforts. This has raised concerns that he may receive Russian technology transfers in return, further strengthening the threat posed by his nuclear-armed military. South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a report Thursday that it believes North Korea sent around 3,000 additional troops to Russia in January and February and has continued supplying ammunition, short-range missiles, self-propelled howitzers, and multiple rocket launchers. The Joint Chiefs assessed that, of the approximately 11,000 North Korean troops sent to fight in the war against Ukraine, around 4,000 have been killed or injured.