North Korea has unveiled a new “suicide drone,” with leader Kim Jong Un personally overseeing a performance test of the weapon, which experts believe may have originated from Russia.
Kim, wearing a cream-colored baker boy hat, was seen smiling as he watched the test, using high-powered binoculars to observe the drones as they struck and destroyed targets. The images were released by state media on Monday.
According to the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), Kim emphasized the need to “develop and produce more suicide drones,” alongside “strategic reconnaissance and multi-purpose attack drones.”
Suicide drones are unmanned aerial vehicles equipped with explosives, designed to crash into enemy targets, effectively functioning as guided missiles.
KCNA reported that North Korea’s expanding drone fleet is intended for use across various striking ranges to target enemies on both land and sea. The drones tested on August 24 successfully identified and destroyed their targets after following predetermined routes.
Kim also stated that North Korea aims to “proactively introduce artificial intelligence technology into the development of drones.”
Experts noted that the drones featured in state media images resemble the Israeli-made “HAROP” suicide drone, the Russian-made “Lancet-3,” and the Israeli “HERO 30.” They suggested that North Korea might have obtained this technology from Russia, which in turn could have acquired it from Iran—possibly through hacking or theft from Israel.
“The suicide drone, which resembles the HAROP, can fly over 1,000 kilometers (600 miles),” said Cho Sang-keun, a professor at South Korea’s Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology. He warned that this development poses a significant threat to South Korea’s national security and critical infrastructure.
“They are demonstrating their capability to strike targets ranging from the tactical to the strategic level,” Cho added. “In the event of a provocation or international conflict, the South Korean military could suffer considerable damage from these suicide drones.”
In 2022, North Korea sent drones across the border, which South Korea’s military failed to intercept due to their small size. In response, South Korea established a drone operation command in 2023 to better address the growing threat.
North Korea and Russia, allies since North Korea’s founding after World War II, have strengthened their ties further since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The United States and South Korea have accused North Korea of supplying ammunition and missiles to Russia for use in the conflict.
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