North Korea has conducted tests of exploding drones designed to crash into their targets, with leader Kim Jong Un urging the acceleration of mass production of these weapons, according to state media on Friday.
This latest military display occurred as the United States, South Korea, and Japan engaged in joint military exercises featuring advanced fighter jets and a US aircraft carrier in nearby international waters, showcasing their defensive stance against North Korea.
The official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) released images of Kim conversing with officials near at least two types of unmanned aerial vehicles. These included drones with X-shaped tails and wings, similar to those revealed in August when Kim oversaw another demonstration of explosive drones.
The drones navigated various routes and successfully hit their targets, KCNA reported. The images showed a BMW sedan and old tank models being destroyed.
Kim expressed satisfaction with the development of these weapons and emphasised the need to “build a serial production system as early as possible and go into full-scale mass production,” highlighting the growing importance of drones in modern warfare.
KCNA paraphrased Kim, noting that drones are cost-effective and suitable for a range of military applications. The report did not specify if Kim directly mentioned South Korea, which the North Korean drones are intended to target.
Last month, North Korea accused South Korea of sending drones to drop anti-North Korean propaganda leaflets over Pyongyang, threatening retaliation if such flights continued. The South Korean military has neither confirmed nor denied the claims.
Regional tensions have escalated as Kim showcases his advancing nuclear and missile programmes, including nuclear-capable weapons aimed at South Korea and intercontinental ballistic missiles capable of reaching the US mainland.
Additionally, Kim is reportedly sending military equipment and troops to Russia to support President Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine, raising concerns in Seoul about potential Russian technology aiding North Korea’s arsenal development.
Alongside his nuclear threats, Kim has engaged in psychological and electronic warfare against South Korea, such as sending balloons with trash over the border and disrupting GPS signals near South Korea’s largest airport.
North Korea is expected to be a major topic at an upcoming trilateral summit involving South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, US President Joe Biden, and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meetings in Peru.
South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met on the sidelines of APEC on Thursday, expressing “strong concerns” over the deepening ties between Pyongyang and Moscow, particularly regarding North Korean troop deployments supporting Russia’s conflict in Ukraine, according to the US State Department.
Frances Ibiefo
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