Kim Jong Un urges drone dominance as North Korea fires missiles, rockets

SEOUL, October 30 - North Korean leader Kim Jong Un called for his nation to achieve absolute dominance in drone technology during a display of advanced unmanned aeronautical systems, according to state media KCNA. The demonstration featured tactical suicide drones, cruise missiles, multipurpose drones and a battalion of 600mm multiple rocket launchers.

The event emphasized Kim's efforts to modernize North Korea's military forces through the use of drones and artificial intelligence, as the country learns from its experiences in Russia's war in Ukraine and other global conflicts.

KCNA photographs depicted North Korean Air Force UAVs bearing the emblem at the exhibition attended by Kim and several of his generals. Images also showed an unmanned aerial vehicle crashing into a military vehicle, exploding in flames, which KCNA reported as part of a weapons demonstration. South Korea's military reported North Korea had launched around 10 projectiles, including short-range ballistic missiles, on Thursday.

KCNA quoted Kim as stating that securing superiority in drone technology was an essential option given the evolving nature of modern warfare and that prioritizing high-level AI in unmanned weapons systems should be North Korea's top military priority.

Kim has consistently advocated for the development of drones and AI in the military. State media reported that in November 2024, Kim ordered mass production of suicide attack drones, and oversaw tests of AI-equipped versions in March 2025. In September 2025, he declared AI a top priority in modernizing weapons. Since October 2024, more than 16,000 North Korean personnel have been deployed to Russia to support Moscow's war in Ukraine, providing valuable battlefield experience in drone, electronic, and combined-arms warfare, according to South Korean intelligence.

A professor from South Korea's Kyungnam University, Lim Eul-chul, noted that by showcasing a comprehensive array of weapons, North Korea aims to eliminate the prospect of dialogue or negotiations with South Korea, as the country transforms its military with drones and AI, drawing lessons from conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East.