By Gloria Ogbonna

On Thursday, North Korea’s state-run media announced that dictator Kim Jong-un personally oversaw the testing of a new model of AI-equipped suicide drones, signaling a rapid advancement in the country’s military capabilities.

The claim, if true, marks a significant step forward from August, when Pyongyang first revealed its fleet of suicide drones.

Suicide drones, also known as loitering munitions, are essentially flying bombs that can be remotely directed to strike a target. Unlike more advanced unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) used by global military powers—such as those employed by the United States, which can launch multiple strikes and be reloaded—suicide drones are one-time-use weapons.

However, they are significantly cheaper and easier to mass-produce, making them attractive in modern warfare, including conflicts like Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine.

Kim Jong-un’s Push for AI in North Korea’s Military

According to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), Kim visited the Unmanned Aeronautical Technology Complex and a special research group focused on electronic warfare.

During this visit, he was reportedly briefed on various types of reconnaissance and suicide drones being developed and personally observed their performance tests.

KCNA claimed that the newly tested drones are powered by artificial intelligence, but it failed to elaborate on how AI is being integrated into the weapons.

The report did, however, quote Kim emphasizing the critical role of AI in military advancements, suggesting that North Korea views intelligent drones as a necessary element in modernizing its armed forces.

“Saying that the field of unmanned equipment and artificial intelligence should be top-prioritized and developed in modernizing the armed forces, [Kim] stressed it is important to correctly shape the state long-term plan for promoting the rapid development of the work to use intelligent drones,” KCNA reported.

In addition to the AI-equipped suicide drones, Kim also inspected and tested new reconnaissance drones, which are designed for spying on enemy troop movements, naval operations, and electronic warfare.

These drones reportedly have capabilities for electronic jamming and attack systems, potentially posing a new threat to regional adversaries.

Following the tests, Kim expressed “great satisfaction” with the results, KCNA stated, reinforcing the regime’s commitment to bolstering its drone warfare capabilities.

North Korea’s Alleged Role in the Ukraine War

North Korea’s growing emphasis on drone technology coincides with its deepening military cooperation with Russia. Despite Pyongyang’s official silence on its involvement in the Ukraine war, reports suggest North Korean troops are actively fighting for Russia.

South Korean and Ukrainian officials estimate that as many as 12,000 North Korean soldiers have been deployed to assist Russian forces. In January, Ukraine released videos purportedly showing captured North Korean soldiers, attempting to substantiate its claims.

Further escalating concerns, South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) reported on Thursday that North Korea had sent an additional 3,000 troops to Russia in recent months, bringing the total estimated number of North Korean forces deployed to around 11,000. According to their data, North Korean troops have suffered 4,000 casualties in the conflict.

Strengthening Military Ties Between Russia and North Korea

International observers have noted that North Korea’s recent drone advancements and military cooperation with Russia align with growing ties between Kim Jong-un and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

In June 2024, Putin visited Pyongyang for the first time in two decades, where the two leaders signed a mutual defense agreement that analysts believe commits North Korea to Russia’s interests, including its war efforts in Ukraine.

This partnership continued last week when Sergei Shoigu, Russia’s former defense minister and current secretary of the Russian Security Council, led a delegation to Pyongyang. Shoigu praised North Korea’s support for Russia’s geopolitical stance and explicitly thanked the regime for its solidarity in the Ukraine war.

Meanwhile, Russian news agency TASS reported that Kim Jong-un is preparing for a visit to Russia, citing Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko. The exact date of Kim’s expected trip remains unknown.

The Growing Threat of North Korean Military Exports

Reports suggest that North Korea is not only developing military technology for its own use but is also positioning itself as a key weapons supplier to Russia.

Given the timeline of Pyongyang’s drone announcements and its warming relations with Moscow, experts believe North Korean suicide drones may soon appear in the Russian war arsenal.

If North Korea has indeed developed AI-powered suicide drones, it could mark a shift in modern warfare, making these weapons more precise, autonomous, and harder to defend against.

However, given North Korea’s history of exaggerated military claims, skepticism remains regarding the actual sophistication of these new drones.

With growing tensions in East Asia, North Korea’s expanding military capabilities—coupled with its strategic alliance with Russia—are likely to trigger heightened security concerns for the U.S., South Korea, and Japan.

As North Korea continues to advance its drone program and deepen its military ties with Moscow, the implications for global security remain uncertain but deeply concerning.

Source Breitbart