North Korea has tested a new type of explosive drone, according to state media reports released on Monday, as cited by 20 Minutes.
The test was personally overseen by North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. Footage from Pyongyang's state media showed Kim Jong-un watching the drone test through binoculars on Saturday.
The official KCNA news agency quoted Kim as emphasizing the need to "develop and produce more suicide drones," in addition to "strategic reconnaissance drones and multi-purpose attack drones."
These newly tested drones have been dubbed "suicide drones." They are designed to carry an explosive payload and strike enemy targets within a radius of several kilometers.
KCNA reported that the drones "correctly identified and destroyed" their designated targets, and noted that they could be deployed against enemy targets both on land and at sea.
Kim Jong-un also addressed plans to incorporate artificial intelligence technology into future drone developments.
Experts analyzing the footage from state media noted that the drones bore a strong resemblance to Israeli-made Harop and Hero-30 drones, as well as Russian-made Lancet-3s. Analysts believe Pyongyang likely acquired the technology through Russia, which may have sourced it from Iran.
"The suicide drone, similar to the Harop, can fly over 1,000 kilometers," said Cho Sang-keun, a professor at the South Korean Advanced Institute of Science and Technology. He added that these drones pose a threat to South Korea's critical infrastructure.
In recent years, North Korea has demonstrated an increasing focus on drone technology. In 2022, Pyongyang sent drones across the inter-Korean border, evading South Korea's defenses due to their small size. In response to the growing threat, South Korea has since established a joint military command specifically for drone operations.
The latest drone test underscores the deepening military collaboration between Pyongyang and Moscow, with the two nations growing even closer since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Both Washington and Seoul have accused North Korea of aiding Russia's war effort by supplying munitions and missiles.
