CaliToday (20/9/2025): North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has personally supervised a test of new "Kumsong-series tactical attack drones" and subsequently issued directives for the accelerated development of artificial intelligence (AI) within the country's unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) technology. This push for advanced drone capabilities comes as Western intelligence continues to report North Korea's significant military support to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, raising concerns about mutual military learning and proliferation.
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| Drones are emerging as a "major military activity asset", North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said (STR) (STR/KCNA VIA KNS/AFP) |
North Korean state media, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), reported on Friday that Kim Jong Un observed the drone tests with "great satisfaction." Shared imagery depicted the drones taking off and then successfully destroying their designated targets. According to KCNA, the exercise demonstrated "the excellent combat effectiveness of the Kumsong-series tactical attack UAVs," with Kim reportedly expressing high praise for the results.
Kim Jong Un underscored the growing importance of drone technology, stating that UAVs are "emerging as a key operational military asset, elevating it to a top priority and crucial task in modernizing the armed forces of the DPRK," using the acronym for North Korea. He further commanded an intensified effort for the "rapid development of newly introduced artificial intelligence technology" and the "expansion and strengthening" of the nation's drone production capacity.
Analyst Hong Min at the Korea Institute for National Unification in Seoul suggests that Kim views drone technology as pivotal for securing North Korea's "status as a powerful state." He added that "drones are concerning because they offer highly effective, low-cost threats: automated mission execution, improved accuracy and lethality, suitability for mass production, and enhanced tactical flexibility."
Lessons Learned from Russia's War
Pyongyang first unveiled its new attack drones last year, and experts have since warned that these emerging capabilities could be intrinsically linked to its deepening military alliance with Russia.
This alliance is not merely transactional. South Korean and Western intelligence agencies have reported that North Korea dispatched over 10,000 troops to Russia in 2024, primarily deployed to the Kursk region, alongside significant shipments of artillery shells, missiles, and long-range rocket systems. Tragically, approximately 600 North Korean soldiers have reportedly been killed, and thousands more wounded, fighting on behalf of Russia, according to Seoul.
Analysts contend that North Korean military personnel deployed to fight for Russia are accumulating invaluable modern warfare experience, particularly concerning the operational use of drones on the battlefield. This direct exposure to contemporary conflict dynamics, including Russia's extensive reliance on drones in Ukraine, is seen as a critical catalyst for North Korea's own accelerated drone and AI development.
Lim Eul-chul, from Kyungnam University in South Korea, further elaborated that AI integration could enable North Korean drones to "operate even when GPS or communication signals are jammed, relying on pre-trained algorithms." This is a significant concern given that North Korea has previously tested GPS jamming attacks against South Korean assets, impacting civilian vessels and dozens of aircraft.
"The AI drive has accelerated since 2024, building on Russian technology transfers and lessons from the war in Ukraine," Lim concluded, directly linking Russia's wartime experience to North Korea's burgeoning military tech ambitions.
This development paints a concerning picture of a symbiotic relationship: North Korea supplies crucial battlefield support to Russia, while potentially gaining invaluable insights and technological assistance that could significantly enhance its own military capabilities, particularly in the realm of advanced drone and AI warfare.
