AI News Monitor

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has inspected new AI-equipped suicide drones and the country’s first airborne early-warning aircraft, signaling advancements in military technology that analysts believe were developed with Russian support.

State media released undated images showing Kim examining the drones, described as “loitering munitions” capable of autonomously crashing into targets with built-in warheads. The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported that Kim approved plans to expand production, emphasizing that “unmanned equipment and artificial intelligence should be top-prioritized in modernizing the armed forces.”

Experts suggest Russia likely aided North Korea’s drone program, a partnership strengthened by Pyongyang’s deployment of troops to assist Moscow in Ukraine. James Patton Rogers, a drone expert at Cornell, warned that these developments “should be of concern to South Korea and the international community,” given the potential risks of AI-driven weapons in the volatile Korean Peninsula.

In addition to the drones, North Korea showcased an airborne early-warning aircraft, possibly modified from a Russian-made Il-76 cargo plane. While the aircraft could enhance North Korea’s aging air defenses, South Korean officials remain skeptical of its effectiveness, noting possible Russian involvement in its internal systems.

The unveiling comes amid deepening military ties between Pyongyang and Moscow, including suspected exchanges of North Korean weaponry for Russian space and missile technology. With North Korean troops reportedly gaining combat experience in Ukraine, the regime’s drone capabilities may continue evolving—raising alarms in Seoul and beyond.