North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has ordered the accelerated mass production of attack drones, according to state media, amid growing international concerns over the country’s expanding military cooperation with Russia.
The official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported on Friday that Kim oversaw the latest tests of “various types of suicide attack drones” developed by Pyongyang’s Unmanned Aerial Technology Complex. These drones, capable of targeting both land and sea, function like guided missiles.
Kim emphasized the importance of rapidly establishing a serial production system and scaling up manufacturing efforts, noting that drones are becoming an increasingly vital tool in modern warfare. The tests, which took place on Thursday, demonstrated the drones’ precision in hitting designated targets after following pre-programmed flight paths, KCNA said.
North Korea first revealed its suicide drones in August, and experts have linked the advancement of the technology to the country’s strengthening military ties with Russia. Both nations recently signed a mutual defense pact, further cementing their strategic partnership. Loitering munitions, such as the drones, have gained attention for their ability to strike high-value targets like tanks at relatively low cost, and have been used in conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East.
On Monday, Kim ratified the Treaty of Comprehensive Strategic Partnerships with Russia, a defense agreement that commits both nations to provide immediate military assistance to each other in the event of aggression. In exchange, North Korea has deployed approximately 10,000 soldiers to support Russian forces in Ukraine, a presence confirmed by NATO, the United States, Ukraine, and South Korea.
South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol has expressed concerns about the potential transfer of sensitive Russian military technologies to North Korea, including advanced drone capabilities. “The competition to use drones as the primary tool in military operations is accelerating worldwide,” KCNA quoted Kim as saying.
Kim also noted that Pyongyang has been prioritizing the development of unmanned systems and integrating them into its broader military strategy. Recently, North Korea has launched drones across the border into South Korea, flying over key locations like Seoul and areas near the South Korean presidential office.
Alongside its drone developments, North Korea has continued to test ballistic missiles in violation of United Nations sanctions and has recently escalated tensions by blowing up key infrastructure connecting the two Koreas.
