North Korea Tests AI-Guided Missiles Targeting South Korea

On May 26, 2026, Kim Jong-un supervised a series of missile and artillery tests involving new weapons equipped with artificial intelligence for precision guidance. The launches took place in Chongju, North Pyongan, where North Korean forces fired multiple close-range ballistic missiles toward the sea off the west coast, including one that flew approximately 80 kilometers.

The drills assessed a tactical ballistic missile warhead and an AI-guided 240mm artillery rocket. Most notably, the tests featured a new AI-guided tactical cruise missile utilizing autonomous navigation and terrain contour matching to strike targets up to 100 kilometers away, bringing Seoul within its range. Kim stated these automated systems were updated to suit the conditions of modern warfare as part of a five-year defense modernization program.

The Joint Chiefs of Staff of South Korea bolstered its surveillance posture and coordinated information exchange with the United States and Japan in response. President Lee Jae Myung called for the strengthening of South Korean military capabilities, specifically emphasizing AI and drone technology. These developments follow a pattern of expanded nuclear and missile arsenals and a hardline stance from Pyongyang, which has labeled South Korea a permanent and hostile enemy.