Not Nuclear: North Korean Leader Oversees Military Surprise

In a surprise move, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un showcased his country’s non-nuclear strike capabilities.

State media in North Korea reported on Friday that Kim Jong-un presided over performance tests of tactical strike drones, stressing the need to apply artificial intelligence technologies to them and to enhance their operational capabilities.

According to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), Kim inspected on Thursday performance trials of unmanned weapon systems developed and produced by an institute and a corporation affiliated with the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Technology Complex. On the same day, he reviewed the performance and combat usability of strategic and tactical reconnaissance drones as well as multi-purpose unmanned aerial vehicles.

KCNA said the test proved the “outstanding effectiveness” of the tactical strike drones of the “Komsong” type in combat roles.

First appearance for the “Komsong”

This is the first time North Korean state media has reported on the tactical strike drones called “Komsong.” Kim said, “The development of artificial intelligence and the operational capabilities of unmanned weapons and equipment should be a top priority in modernizing the armed forces.”

He emphasized that drones have become major military assets in modern wars and urged “basic efforts to rapidly develop modern AI technologies and to expand and strengthen mass-production capacity,” the agency added.

Photos released by KCNA showed two types of what appear to be “suicide attack drones” striking mock targets.

What about Ukraine?

Last year North Korea already conducted performance tests of such unmanned aerial systems. In March, it oversaw tests of AI-equipped “suicide drones” and called for their further development and technological advancement.

Since dispatching forces to Russia to support Moscow’s war with Ukraine, North Korea has focused on drone development, with unmanned aerial systems playing a leading role in combat operations.