North Korea's Kim Jong Un inspects AI 'suicide attack drones'

According to North Korean state media, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un inspected a new type of suicide drone and stated that these drones are equipped with artificial intelligence (AI) technology. Undated photos released by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) show Kim Jong Un on a runway, surrounded by officials, inspecting a drone. KCNA added that Kim Jong Un approved plans to expand production of the device.

Analysts suggest that the development of this technology was likely aided by Russia. Recently, North Korea has provided support to Russia by dispatching soldiers to assist Moscow in the war in Ukraine. James Patton Rogers, Executive Director of the Cornell Brooks Tech Policy Institute and a drone expert, also believes that this attack drone is a manifestation of the increasingly close ties between the two countries in recent years.

North Korea initially revealed the existence of this drone, also known as loitering munitions, in August 2024; they are designed to crash into targets and detonate built-in warheads. At the time, KCNA stated that Pyongyang would "actively" commit to introducing "artificial intelligence technology" into weapons. Mr. Patton Rogers stated that Pyongyang is developing this capability, which "should be of concern to South Korea and the international community."

He told the BBC: "North Korea is very clearly staking the future of its military on drones." He added: "The question is whether these algorithms are robust enough, safe enough, and advanced enough to make decisions that won't exacerbate the delicate security situation on the Korean Peninsula." He believes that Russia likely provided assistance in the development of the drones. In addition to the drones, Kim Jong Un also showcased what is believed to be the country's first airborne early warning aircraft.

This aircraft is more akin to a commercial airliner, using radar to provide an aerial overview of the theater of war. South Korean officials have stated that more time is needed to assess the effectiveness of Pyongyang's airborne early warning aircraft. Lee Sung-joon, Public Affairs Director of the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff, stated at a briefing on Thursday that the internal equipment and components may be linked to Russia. Kim Jong Un has been accused of providing weapons to Russia, while Vladimir Putin is believed to be providing North Korea with space technology that could help its missile program.

Last June, Putin and Kim Jong Un signed an agreement pledging mutual assistance if either Russia or North Korea is subjected to "aggression." Last month, South Korean intelligence agencies stated that North Korea had dispatched more soldiers to Russia and redeployed other soldiers to the front lines in the western Kursk region, where Ukraine launched a blitz invasion.