North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has ordered the country to rapidly begin mass-producing explosive drones with self-detonation, stating that the development of these weapons is an „essential need.”
Kim Jong Un participated in a test of this weapon on Thursday and was impressed by its effectiveness.
Images released by North Korean state media show Kim and various officials at the drone launch site. Heavily edited images depict a car and a tank destroyed by what appear to be unmanned aerial vehicles, reports CNN.
State media reported that "drones of various types hit the targets with precision" during the test. These can be "used in various ranges of action" and are designed "to precisely target enemy assets on land and at sea."
Kim stated that the use of such drones in military activities is widespread worldwide, and authorities acknowledge that "drones achieve clear successes in large and small conflicts," state media further reported.
The North Korean dictator also oversaw a test of kamikaze drones in August, emphasizing the need to equip the North Korean army with such weapons "as soon as possible."
In 2022, North Korea launched five drones towards South Korea. Four flew around Ganghwa Island, while the fifth flew over the northern airspace of Seoul.
Kim's order comes as concerns in the West grow over North Korea's military cooperation with Russia. The U.S. State Department announced on Tuesday that 10,000 North Korean soldiers have been sent to Russia and "have started engaging in combat operations with Russian forces" in the Kursk region, where Ukraine's three-month military incursion into Russian territory has stalled.
T.D.