Kim Jong Un Orders Absolute Superiority in Drone Technology
Kim Jong Un ordered the rapid expansion of unmanned aerial technology and AI during a weapons exhibition featuring new rocket launchers and ballistic missile tests.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un called for the seizure of absolute superiority in drone technology and the integration of artificial intelligence for national defense during a weapons exhibition on Thursday, October 29. The event, titled Unmanned Aeronautical Technology Development 2026, featured over 30 types of aircraft, including stealth, first-person-view attack, and multipurpose drones. The exhibition included a firepower demonstration with tactical suicide drones, cruise missiles, and the first public firing of the Sniper 600-millimeter multiple rocket launcher.
Simultaneously, South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff detected approximately 10 short-range ballistic missiles launched from the Wonsan area toward the East Sea. Seoul military officials believe these launches involved the KN-25 super-large rocket launcher, which Pyongyang claims can carry Hwasan-31 tactical nuclear warheads. State media reported that the drone and rocket systems hit targets with 100 percent accuracy, including mock U.S. M1 Abrams tanks and South Korean guard posts.
These military escalations occur amid high tensions with South Korea following land mine blasts that wounded three South Korean soldiers, an incident Pyongyang denies. In a shift of diplomatic focus, Kim Jong Un also made a surprise visit to a Chinese border town on Saturday to strengthen bilateral ties, moving away from his previous prioritization of Russia's war against Ukraine. Analysts suggest the increased weapons testing is intended to increase leverage for potential diplomacy with U.S. President Donald Trump.
