North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has announced a push for mass production of explosive drones, a move linked to strengthening military ties with Russia amidst the Ukraine conflict. The drones, designed for precision strikes, are expected to enhance North Korea’s military capabilities. Experts suggest technology may have been sourced from Russian and Iranian designs. This initiative coincides with rising tensions with South Korea, as North Korea aims to utilize drones for both military and propaganda purposes.
North Korea’s Drone Production Surge
Amid accusations of aiding Russia in its ongoing conflict with Ukraine, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has directed his focus towards the ‘mass production’ of explosive drones. This declaration was made public on Friday, November 15, following a performance test observed by the dictator at a factory, as reported by the state-run news agency KCNA.
Strengthening Military Alliances
Kim emphasized the urgency of establishing a systematic approach to drone production, aiming for large-scale manufacturing. The drones, which North Korea first introduced in August, are engineered to crash into enemy targets, functioning similarly to guided missiles.
Experts suggest that this development is a direct result of the deepening alliance between North Korea and Russia. Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022, the two nations, historically communist allies, have moved closer together. A significant development occurred during President Vladimir Putin’s visit to Pyongyang in June when a mutual defense treaty was signed, ensuring immediate military assistance in the event of an attack on either nation.
During the recent testing phase, the drones demonstrated precision, successfully striking targets along predetermined paths. According to KCNA, these drones are designed for extensive operational use, capable of targeting both land and maritime threats.
Kim Jong Un highlighted the drones’ practicality, noting their low production costs and versatility in military applications. He pointed out that North Korea has increasingly prioritized the enhancement of unmanned military assets as part of its broader defense strategy.
Notably, images released in August indicate that these drones bear similarities to the Russian-made Lancet-3 and the Israeli Harop and Hero-30 explosive drones. Analysts suspect that North Korea may have sourced these technologies from Russia, which may have obtained them from Iran, with Tehran being linked to potential cyber theft from Israel.
This announcement arrives amid heightened tensions between North and South Korea, particularly following North Korea’s launch of a new solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile, touted as its most advanced yet. Pyongyang has accused Seoul of infringing on its sovereignty by deploying drones for propaganda purposes. The mention of expanding drone production implies that North Korea might retaliate in kind, as suggested by Yang Moo-jin, the president of the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul. He noted that North Korea could leverage such drones to disseminate messages to the South.
Considering the effectiveness of drone warfare observed in the Ukraine conflict, there is speculation about their potential role in future confrontations in the region.