Kim Jong Un ramps up drone development amid US‑South Korea drills

In North Korea, new kamikaze drones were tested under the supervision of Kim Jong Un. The dictator announced an acceleration in the development of this type of weapon to increase the "combat readiness" of the army. Pyongyang's actions reportedly occurred precisely when USA and South Korean troops were conducting extensive maneuvers.

On Saturday, Kim Jong Un visited the Drone Institute of the North Korean Academy of Military Sciences. It was there that the tests of the new kamikaze drones took place. During these tests, the drones "correctly identified and destroyed the designated targets, after overcoming various predefined routes," reported the North Korean state agency KCNA.

Kim Jong Un announced the acceleration of work on kamikaze drone development to increase the "combat readiness" of the army, North Korean official media reported on Monday.

Photos published by the media show a drone with X-shaped wings striking a target resembling a South Korean K-2 tank, as noted by the Associated Press. Other drones attacked targets by launching missiles.

Quoted by the KCNA agency, Kim Jong Un said that more kamikaze drones need to be developed and produced, along with reconnaissance and strike drones. The North Korean dictator also wishes for the new weapon to be included in the country's military arsenal as soon as possible.

Kim Jong Un added that his country should work on using artificial intelligence in drones.

AP emphasizes that the trials, which took place on Saturday, occurred during the large-scale ongoing maneuvers of US and South Korean forces. The aim of the maneuvers, which are expected to last until Thursday, is - as communicated in Seoul - to further strengthen defensive capabilities in the face of Pyongyang's nuclear threats.