Kim Jong-un, the North Korean leader, supervises a drone test and commands the advancement of artificial intelligence technology.
North Korea, under the leadership of Kim Jong-un, has been making significant strides in the development of artificial intelligence (AI) technology and the expansion of its drone production capabilities. This push towards modern warfare is believed to be influenced by technology transfers and lessons from the war in Ukraine.
According to analysts, North Korean troops sent to fight for Russia will likely gain valuable experience in modern warfare, including drone usage. This new drone technology offers low-cost, high-efficiency threats with autonomous mission execution, improved accuracy and lethality, suitability for mass production, and enhanced tactical flexibility.
Kim Jong-un has expressed great satisfaction with the results of the recent drone exercises, with state media reporting "excellent combat effectiveness". Analyst Hong Min from Seoul's Korea Institute for National Unification suggests that Kim sees drone technology as critical to securing "great power status".
The AI-driven drones developed by North Korea may be capable of operating autonomously, even when GPS or communication signals are jammed. Lim Eul-chul from South Korea's Kyungnam University posits that these drones could rely on pre-trained AI algorithms to function independently.
The advancements in North Korea's drone technology have not gone unnoticed. Experts have warned that this new capability could be linked to its budding alliance with Russia. South Korean and Western intelligence agencies claim North Korea sent over 10,000 soldiers to Russia in 2024, along with artillery shells, missiles, and long-range rocket systems.
The deployment of North Korean troops to Russia has reportedly resulted in approximately 600 soldiers being killed and thousands more wounded, according to Seoul. North Korea's GPS jamming attacks have also affected several South Korean ships and dozens of civilian aircraft.
In response to these developments, Kim Jong-un has emphasized accelerated efforts to develop and expand AI use for drone modernization within the country's military forces. This domestic AI development has been underway since 2024, with technology transfers and lessons from the war in Ukraine playing a significant role.
Pyongyang unveiled its first attack drones last year, and the official Korean Central News Agency shared images of an unmanned vehicle taking off and destroying a target. With these advancements, it seems that North Korea is positioning itself as a formidable player in the global drone technology arena.
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