Janice R. Andrews
North Korean state media announced Friday that Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un has ordered the expedited mass production of kamikaze drones. These unmanned aerial vehicles are engineered to strike and explode upon reaching their targets. The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported that Kim emphasized these weapons’ cost-effectiveness and manufacturing efficiency for military applications.
State media released photographs showing Kim examining various drone models, including explosive variants similar to those demonstrated last August. Testing footage revealed the drones’ destructive capabilities, with demonstrations showing the precise targeting of vehicles and decommissioned tanks.
The announcement emerges amid heightened regional military activity, as the U.S., South Korea, and Japan recently completed joint exercises featuring advanced aircraft and a U.S. carrier group. This follows escalating tensions between the Koreas, with North Korea recently claiming South Korea conducted drone-based leaflet drops over Pyongyang – allegations Seoul has not addressed.
Kim continues to develop North Korea’s military capabilities, including nuclear weapons and missiles with ranges threatening both regional neighbors and potentially the United States. Internationally, North Korea has reportedly sent military personnel to Russia’s Kursk region, following a newly established defense agreement between Pyongyang and Moscow. This partnership has prompted concerns about potential technology transfers that could enhance North Korea’s military capabilities.
The situation is expected to be addressed at the upcoming APEC summit in Peru, where President Biden plans to meet with South Korean and Japanese leaders to coordinate their response to North Korea’s military developments.
