North Korean leader Kim Jong Un oversaw the testing of suicide drones and ordered their mass production, pointing to the need to update military strategies in light of the global spread of such weapons, on Friday, the 15th of November, citing state media KCNA, reports Reuters.
Kim’s recent drone tests, following a year of increased military cooperation with Russia, have sparked speculation about Moscow’s possible technical support for their development.
Such drones are widely used in the war in Ukraine as well as in the Middle East.
“(Kim) stressed the need to set up a serial production system as soon as possible and start full-scale mass production,” the state news agency KCNA said.
Kim said competition in the use of drones for military purposes is intensifying worldwide as military authorities are likely recognising their effectiveness in conflicts of various scales.
“Such objective changes urgently require updating many areas of military theory, practice and education,” KCNA quoted Kim as saying.
North Korea has sent drones across the border to the South, which flew for hours in key areas, including the capital Seoul, and over the no-fly zone around the South Korean presidential office.
This has led South Korea to deploy weapons to shoot down North Korean drones.
North Korea and Russia have recently ratified a comprehensive strategic partnership that includes mutual defence.
North Korea has sent troops to Russia’s western front lines in its war with Ukraine, and South Korean and US officials have stated that North Korean soldiers have taken part in the fighting against Ukraine alongside Russian forces.