North Korea has showcased a new “suicide drone,” with leader Kim Jong Un personally overseeing a performance test, according to state media reports on Monday. The demonstration featured the drones destroying targets, with Kim observed using high-powered binoculars and expressing a desire for increased development of such drones.
Kim emphasized the need for “more suicide drones,” as well as advancements in “strategic reconnaissance and multi-purpose attack drones,” the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported. Suicide drones, designed to carry explosives and crash into enemy targets, function similarly to guided missiles.
North Korea’s expanding drone fleet is expected to target ground and sea-based enemies, with KCNA noting that all tested drones successfully identified and destroyed their targets along pre-set flight paths on August 24. Kim also announced plans to integrate artificial intelligence technology into future drone development.
Experts observed that the drones resemble Israeli-made “HAROP,” Russian “Lancet-3,” and Israeli “HERO 30” models. There is speculation that North Korea may have obtained these technologies from Russia, which in turn might have received them from Iran, possibly through hacking or theft from Israel.
Professor Cho Sang-keun from South Korea’s Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology highlighted that drones similar to the HAROP can travel over 1,000 km (600 miles), posing a significant threat to South Korean national security and critical infrastructure.
Cho warned that any provocation or conflict could result in substantial damage to South Korea from these drones. In 2022, North Korea’s drones crossed into South Korean airspace, evading interception due to their small size. In response, South Korea established a dedicated drone operation command in 2023.
North Korea and Russia, long-standing allies since the Cold War, have strengthened their ties following Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. The U.S. and South Korea have accused North Korea of supplying ammunition and missiles to Russia for its war efforts.
