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North Korea preps new kamikaze drones

April 01, 2025
Scott Nover
​North Korean leader Kim Jong Un supervises the test of suicide drones with artificial intelligence at an unknown location, in this photo released by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency on March 27, 2025.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un supervises the test of suicide drones with artificial intelligence at an unknown location, in this photo released by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency on March 27, 2025.

KCNA via REUTERS
Hermit Kingdom leader Kim Jong Un has reportedly supervised AI-powered kamikaze drone tests. He told KCNA, the state news agency, that developing unmanned aircraft and AI should be a top priority to modernize North Korea’s armed forces.

This development, which broke late last week, follows trends in militarization around the world, particularly in the United States and China. We’re already seeing them on the battlefield in the war between Ukraine and Russia. AI-powered drones are handling 80% of strikes, according to our recent interview with former Ukrainian defense advisor Kateryna Bondar, now with the Center for Strategic and International Studies. However, she stressed that humans are still needed in the loop and that we’re a long way away from “killer robots.”

North Korea has traditionally lagged behind the major superpowers on military development, but AI presents another opportunity to level the playing field if it can get access to the right technology and materials.

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