Kim Jong-un has ordered the mass production of kamikaze attack drones, during a test demonstration that simulated a civilian assassination by North Korea forces.
Photographs published by North Korean state media showed a drone exploding into a BMW saloon, as well as a tank and other military vehicles.
“In the test, the drones of various types precisely hit the targets after flying along different pre-set tactical routes in striking ranges,” the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported. “The suicide attack drones to be used within different striking ranges are to perform a mission to precisely attack any enemy targets on the ground and in the sea.”
The attack drone left the civilian car in flames
BMWs, indeed private cars of any kind, are all but unknown in the North. The image appears to be a warning to South Korea‘s leaders about the capacities of the new weapons for stealthily killing politicians or other important individuals.
North Korea first unveiled its attack drones in August, with designs that may have been supplied by Russia, in the latest manifestation of the friendship between Kim and Vladimir Putin. Russia may in turn have obtained the designs for the Lancet drones from Iran, which is suspected of having stolen them from Israel.
The same design is to be seen in the new pictures, as well as a new cylindrical drone.
“Drones are achieving clear successes in big and small conflicts. This is a trend that has emerged as an essential requirement … nowadays,” Kim told the assembled technicians on Thursday at North Korea’s unmanned aerial technology complex.
Kim Jong-un at the test site
KCNA wrote: “[Kim] underscored the need to build a serial production system as early as possible and go into full-scale mass production.”
According to Ukraine, North Korea has given at least 1.5 million artillery shells to Russia since a meeting between the two authoritarian leaders in Russia last year. After signing a “comprehensive partnership agreement” in June, Kim promised that “the fiery friendship of our two countries will grow more monolithic”.
In January, the North tested what it claimed was an underwater nuclear attack drone, capable of unleashing a “radioactive tsunami” on enemy ships and ports. In 2022, the South Korean military was embarrassed when North Korean drones flew unhindered across the border and even approached the presidential palace.
In response, South Korea is developing laser weapons designed to shoot down drones. The Block-I weapon system uses fibre optic cables to generate a laser beam fired at relatively close range, which can damage and disable a drone’s engine or battery.
The North Korean leader appeared pleased with the result of the test
AP
Last month, the North Korean government expressed fury over waves of South Korean drones that had allegedly flown the 100 miles to its capital, Pyongyang, dropping anti-Kim propaganda.
Kim’s sister, Kim Yo-jong, a frequent spokeswoman for the regime, warned that “the moment that a South Korean drone is discovered in the sky over our capital city once again will certainly lead to a horrible disaster”.
The South has refused to confirm or deny that it was behind the drone infiltration.