North Korea's Drive for Advanced Suicide Drones Intensifies Under Kim Jong-un

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North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has escalated his regime's focus on military technology by calling for the accelerated development of suicide drones, a move that further highlights his determination to bolster North Korea's war readiness. During a recent inspection of the Drone Institute at the Academy of Defence Sciences, Kim underscored the importance of creating a diverse array of suicide drones, which he views as essential for the tactical and strategic operations of North Korea's military forces.

 

"It is necessary to develop and produce more suicide drones of various types to be used in tactical infantry and special operation units, as well as strategic reconnaissance and multi-purpose attack drones," Kim Jong-un was quoted as saying by North Korea's state newswire, KCNA. His statement reflects a clear directive to enhance the country’s drone capabilities across multiple military domains.

 

 

During the weekend visit, Kim Jong-un personally observed the performance of these new drones, which included watching as they successfully targeted and destroyed designated objects, such as a mock tank, after navigating preset flight paths. The spectacle was meant to demonstrate the effectiveness of these "suicide drones," which are designed to crash into their targets with explosive force. Kim emphasized that these drones should be incorporated into both tactical infantry and special operation units, including underwater suicide attack drones, to expand the scope of their military application. He also urged the development of artificial intelligence to further advance the capabilities of unmanned vehicles, signaling a broader ambition to integrate AI into North Korea’s military strategy.

 

 

The concept of loitering munitions, which are drones that hover in the air while searching for a specific target before crashing into it with a warhead, has already seen widespread use in conflicts such as those in Ukraine and the Middle East. North Korea's pursuit of similar technology is part of a broader trend in modern warfare, where drones play an increasingly significant role in both offensive and defensive operations.

 

State media released photographs of Kim Jong-un during the inspection, depicting him dressed in a loose-fitting all-white outfit and cap. The images show Kim inspecting blurred-out drones and appearing to provide instructions to senior officials, a visual representation of his hands-on approach to military innovation. Local reports have identified at least four different types of drones being developed, some of which were launched with small rocket engines, indicating the variety of drone technologies North Korea is exploring.

 

This development is likely to cause concern in neighboring South Korea, particularly given the recent vulnerabilities exposed in its airspace security. South Korea has already experienced airspace incursions from the North, a reminder of the ongoing tension between the two countries, which remain technically at war since the Korean Peninsula was divided after the 1950-53 conflict ended with an armistice rather than a peace treaty. North Korea has previously used small commercial drones to infiltrate areas around South Korea’s capital, Seoul, including a notable incident in December 2022 when five North Korean drones crossed into South Korean airspace. In response, the South Korean military fired warning shots and deployed fighter jets, though none of the UAVs were brought down.

 

In light of the recent developments in North Korea, South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) has called for further analysis to determine the similarities between the newly unveiled North Korean drones and other models such as Russia’s ZALA Lancet and the Iranian-designed Shahed. The connection between North Korea and these countries has raised eyebrows, especially given the recent pledges for increased military cooperation between Kim Jong-un and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Pyongyang has been accused by the United States and South Korea of supplying munitions to Russia for its war in Ukraine, allegedly in exchange for advanced military technology.

 

"We understand that some gifts (drones) were given in an exchange between North Korea and Russia in the past… We need to analyze various measures to see if those have improved performance," a JCS spokesperson stated during a briefing, highlighting the ongoing concern about the potential technological advancements North Korea could gain from its partnerships.

 

In response to the growing threat posed by North Korea’s drone capabilities, South Korea has taken steps to strengthen its defenses. Last month, South Korea’s National Defence Acquisition Programme Administration (DAPA) announced plans to deploy new laser weapons, often referred to as "Star Wars" lasers, designed to neutralize drones dispatched from the North. These laser systems are expected to be operational by the end of the year and are intended to destroy drones by melting their surfaces, causing the internal components to ignite and rendering the drones inoperable.

 

As North Korea continues to push the boundaries of its military technology, particularly in the realm of suicide drones, the regional security landscape is becoming increasingly complex. Kim Jong-un's relentless pursuit of advanced warfare capabilities is a stark reminder of the ongoing tensions on the Korean Peninsula and the broader implications for global security.

 

Credit: Daily Telegraph 2024-08-27

 

 

 

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[Burma Bill]

 

 

Well I never - the "White Tide Man" (UK 1950's)

 

[thaipo7]

Will be easier to accomplish under a Harris administration.  Look how well Iran has done the past 3 1/2 years with Biden and Harris in office.

[Tug]

I dono thaipo guess I see things differently than you in regards to N Korea I see trump giving little Kim legitimacy in exchange for a photo op it’s painfully obvious trump got played by (for lack of a better definition)a backward Asian hillbilly.they are building more nukes and missiles every day in large part due to trump squandering decades of diplomatic efforts and sanctions all for a photo op.as far as Iran they were abiding by the nuclear deal till trump broke it and welched on the deal they most likely have nukes allready with the hardware to deliver it I might add thanks to trump so yea guess we do see things differently ehh?

[Purdey]

There goes billion dollar missiles, main battle tanks and other expensive gizmos.