North unveils new suicide drones as leader Kim aims to accelerate production

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un emphasized the growing importance of drones in modern warfare and is looking to foster the accelerated production of various suicide drones, according to the country's state media Monday.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un inspects suicide drones during a performance test on Saturday in this photo from the North's official Korean Central News Agency on Monday. [YONHAP]

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un emphasized the growing importance of drones in modern warfare and is looking to foster the accelerated production of various suicide drones, according to the country's state media Monday.

This comes as North Korea has revealed new drone models that closely resemble those produced in Russia, sparking speculation among experts that these designs may have been influenced by the drones Kim received during a visit to the country in September last year.

Kim visited the Academy of Defense Sciences's Drone Institute in Pyongyang on Saturday, where he personally oversaw the testing of recently developed unmanned aerial vehicles, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

"The mission of the drones to be used within different striking ranges is to attack any enemy targets on the ground and in the sea," the KCNA said in an English-language report. "The drones of various types all correctly identified and destroyed the designated targets after flying along different preset routes."

Kim directed the military to develop and produce more suicide drones of various types to be used in tactical infantry, special operations and strategic reconnaissance, the KCNA said. He also stressed the importance of advancing underwater strategic weapons, such as nuclear torpedoes, and incorporating artificial intelligence into drone development.

Expressing "satisfaction" with the tactical and technical features of the new drones, Kim called for more intensive testing to ensure their combat readiness and urged for their rapid deployment within the North Korean military.

This marks the first time North Korea has publicly unveiled suicide drones, according to Koo Byoung-sam, a spokesperson for South Korea's Ministry of Unification.

"Drone development is a key component of North Korea's five-year military plan," Koo said during a press briefing Monday, which Kim first outlined during the Eighth Congress of the Workers' Party of Korea in January 2021.

The suicide drones, painted in white, were shown in pictures published by the North Korean media attacking mock targets resembling South Korea's K-2 main battle tanks.

A recently developed suicide drone destroys a target in a performance test at the Drone Institute of the Academy of Defence Sciences in Pyongyang during North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's visit on Saturday in this photo from the North's official Korean Central News Agency on Monday. [YONHAP]

Analysts have pointed out similarities between these North Korean drones and Russia's Lancet-3, Iran’s Shahed and Israel’s Hero 30 and IAI Harop drones, all of which are loitering munitions designed for anti-tank or long-range missions.

South Korean military authorities acknowledged the similarities between North Korea's drones and those of Russia.

"There have been past exchanges between North Korea and Russia involving the gifting [of drones]," Lee Chang-hyun, a spokesperson for South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff, said during a press briefing Monday. "But further analysis is needed to determine if these [drones] have been upgraded or modified for use."

The potential deployment of North Korea's suicide drones remains "under scrutiny," Lee added.

The timing of North Korea's drone developments coincides with the ongoing South Korea-U.S. joint military exercise Ulchi Freedom Shield, which began on Aug. 19. Experts suggest that North Korea's rapid progress in drone technology may also be intended to bolster its arms exports to Russia, which has been relying on Iranian suicide drones in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

"This is significant in terms of North Korea establishing a system capable of mass-producing drones for deployment in large numbers for the Russia-Ukraine war," said Hong Min, a senior researcher at the Korea Institute for National Unification. "Russia has established a close cooperative relationship with Iran over drones, and there is a possibility that North Korea may also develop a similar partnership with Russia for drone production."

BY SEO JI-EUN, CHUNG YEONG-GYO [seo.jieun1@joongang.co.kr]