Kim Jong Un orders ‘mass production’ of suicide drones: Report

State media outlet Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said North Korean leader Kim Jong Un had ordered the testing and “mass production” of suicide drones, claiming that the worldwide introduction of such drones required an urgent update in military theory.

The agency released still photos showing Kim with drones and quoted him as saying that competition to use such suicide drones was increasing worldwide.

This wouldn’t be North Korea’s first attempt at suicide drones.

Pyongyang first unveiled these drones in August, and experts said the capability could be attributed to the country’s growing alliance with Russia.

The nuclear-armed nation has ratified a historic defense deal with Moscow and is accused of sending thousands of troops to Russia to support its war in Ukraine, prompting South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol to warn about the possible transfer of sensitive Russian military technology to the North It’s happening. Korea.

The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said Kim on Thursday oversaw tests of unmanned aerial vehicles produced by North Korea’s Unmanned Aerial Technology Complex, designed to hit both land and sea targets.

“He underlined the need to establish a mass production system as early as possible and move to full-scale mass production,” KCNA said.

Unmanned drones are designed to carry explosives and deliberately engage enemy targets, effectively acting as guided missiles.

Thursday’s test saw the drones hit targets “precisely” after flying along predetermined paths, KCNA reported.

“Suicide attack drones, which will be used at different attack ranges, will fulfill the task of precisely attacking all kinds of enemy targets on land and at sea,” the agency said.

Kim said drones are “easy to use… a component of strike power” due to their relatively low production costs and wide range of applications, according to KCNA.

He said the North has “recently placed emphasis” on developing unmanned hardware systems and integrating them into the country’s overall military strategy.

(With input from institutions)