SEOUL (Reuters) – North Korean leader Kim Jong Un led a test of suicide drones and ordered mass production of the air weapon. He said the introduction of such drones around the world requires an urgent update of military theory, state media said on Friday.
Kim had overseen the testing of suicide drones earlier this year amid a rapidly developing military partnership with Russia, raising questions about whether he received technical help from Moscow to develop them.
Such weapons, also known as loitering munitions, have been widely used in the war in Ukraine and in the Middle East.
“(Kim) underlined the need to build a series production system as early as possible and move to large-scale mass production,” state news agency KCNA said.
Kim said competition to use drones for military purposes is increasing around the world, with military authorities likely to recognize their success in conflicts of varying scale.
“Such objective change urgently calls for updating many parts of military theory, practice and education,” KCNA quoted Kim as saying.
North Korea has sent drones across the border to the south, flying for hours in key areas including the capital Seoul and over the no-fly zone around the South Korean presidential office.
That has prompted South Korea to use weapons to shoot down North Korean drones.
North Korea and Russia recently ratified a comprehensive strategic partnership their leaders signed in June that includes a mutual defense pact.
North Korea has deployed its troops to Russia's western frontlines in the war with Ukraine, and South Korean and U.S. officials have said North Korean soldiers have joined Russian forces in fighting Ukraine.
(Reporting by Jack KimEditing by Sandra Maler)
