North Korean Leader Supervises Test of ‘Suicide Drones’ During US-South Korea Military Exercise

August 26, 2024 TruthUSA

According to Pyongyang’s official mouthpiece, Kim Jong Un has called for the production of ‘more suicide drones of various types.’

The state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un oversaw a test of domestically built drones on Saturday, including a new weapon known as “suicide drones.”

KCNA stated that the drones were developed by the North Korean Drone Institute of the Academy of Defense Sciences but did not specify the location of the test.

The drones flew along preset routes before identifying and destroying test targets, KCNA mentioned, without giving details on the number of drones used.

The agency also mentioned that Kim has called for the production of “more suicide drones of various types” for use in tactical infantry and special operation units, including underwater suicide attack drones.

Additionally, Kim emphasized the development of reconnaissance and multipurpose attack drones and the integration of artificial intelligence technology.

KCNA also published images from the test, showing a white drone with X-shaped tails hitting and destroying a test target resembling South Korea’s K-2 tank.

South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) spokesperson, Lee Chang-hyun, stated at a press briefing that the country’s military is prepared to detect and intercept North Korean drones.

When questioned about the origin of the drones used by North Korea, Lee mentioned the need for further analysis, given the similarities between the drones in the images from KCNA and Russia’s Zala Lancet-3 drones.

While Lee acknowledged that Russia had previously gifted drones to North Korea, he did not provide further details.

“We would need to analyze various aspects, including whether [North Korea] would have modified to improve their capabilities or other possibilities,” Lee told reporters.

US–South Korea Joint Military Drill

The test coincided with a joint military drill between the United States and South Korea aimed at enhancing their armies’ capabilities to deter and defend against weapons of mass destruction, as stated by the JCS.

The annual Ulchi Freedom Shield exercise, running from Aug. 19 to Aug. 29, includes computer-simulated exercises and field training, including live-fire drills, according to the South Korean military.

JCS mentioned that the drills will address “realistic threats across all domains,” including missile threats, GPS jamming, cyberattacks, and lessons learned from recent armed conflicts.

Despite assertions from both allied nations that the drills are for defense, North Korea has consistently criticized joint drills by the United States and South Korea as a rehearsal for invasion.

In June, North Korea and Russia signed a “strategic partnership” pact allowing each party to provide military assistance if either is attacked. The United States, South Korea, and Japan have expressed “grave concern.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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