Kim Jong Un Oversees North Korea's Testing of New AI-Enabled Suicide and Reconnaissance Kamikaze Drones

Seoul: North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has personally overseen his country’s testing of new suicide drones and reconnaissance Kamikaze drones quipped with AI technology and called for unmanned aircraft and artificial intelligence to be prioritised in military modernisation plans.

North Korea has unveiled an Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) aircraft, which appears to be based on the Russian A-50 "Mainstay" and the Chinese KJ-2000 "Mainring." Both of these aircraft are built on a modified version of Russia's Ilyushin Il-76, and it seems that North Korea’s AEW&C platform follows a similar design concept. 

North Korean Leader Oversees Testing of Kamikaze Suicide Drones

Kim oversaw the testing of “various kinds of reconnaissance and suicide drones” produced by North Korea’s Unmanned Aerial Technology Complex, State-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said on Thursday.

KCNA reported that North Korea's new drones are equipped with advanced capabilities, including the ability to "track and monitor different strategic targets and enemy troop activities on the ground and the sea." Additionally, the attack drones are designed for "various tactical attack missions." It noted that, both types of drones incorporate "new artificial intelligence," enhancing their effectiveness in reconnaissance and combat operations. 

Kim Jong Un has agreed on expanding the production capacity of "unmanned equipment and artificial intelligence" in North Korea. He highlighted the need to establish a long-term strategy to accelerate the development of "intelligent drones," recognizing them as a crucial aspect of modern warfare. This move reflects North Korea's commitment to enhancing its technological capabilities in line with current military trends.

Suicide Drones Testing Successful

Pictures from North Korea's recent drone tests, which took place on Tuesday and Wednesday, showed attack drones successfully striking ground targets, including military vehicles. The images demonstrated the effectiveness of the drones in precision strikes, showcasing North Korea's growing capabilities in unmanned aerial systems.

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Kim Jong-un was also pictured with aides near a newly developed unmanned aerial reconnaissance aircraft, which appeared larger than a fighter jet. Additionally, he was seen boarding an airborne early warning and control (AEW) aircraft, marking the first public reveal of such a platform. The AEW aircraft, equipped with a radar dome on its fuselage, resembled the Boeing-manufactured Peace Eye operated by the South Korean Air Force.

Photos released by North Korea’s official Korean Central News Agency showed Kim observing what appeared to be a large reconnaissance drone roughly resembling Boeing’s E-7 Wedgetail airborne warning and control aircraft. Other images showed exploding drones crashing into military vehicles used as targets.