Quick Read
- Kim Jong Un personally supervised AI-driven military drone tests in September 2025.
- North Korea unveiled Kumsong-series tactical attack drones and the Haeil nuclear-capable underwater drone.
- AI development and drone mass production are now top priorities for the regime.
- North Korea’s drones may incorporate Russian technology and battlefield lessons from Ukraine.
- Regional security tensions are rising as North Korea expands unmanned and naval capabilities.
Kim Jong Un’s Hands-On Drive for AI Military Drones
North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un is not content to simply watch from afar. On September 18, 2025, he was photographed by state media KCNA personally inspecting a suite of unmanned aerial vehicles at a secretive research facility. But this was no mere demonstration: it was a calculated show of technological ambition, coming just days after South Korea and the United States launched joint military exercises. The message to the world was clear—North Korea is racing to redefine warfare through artificial intelligence and unmanned systems.
KCNA’s coverage revealed Kim’s growing fascination with “strategic and tactical unmanned surveillance vehicles and multipurpose drones.” For the first time, the agency publicly named the “Kumsong-series tactical attack drones,” underscoring their significance in Pyongyang’s arsenal. These drones, according to KCNA, proved their “military strategic value and innovative performance,” and Kim expressed “great satisfaction” at their combat effectiveness.
AI at the Heart of North Korea’s Drone Ambitions
Artificial intelligence is not just an add-on for these new weapons—it’s the beating heart of Kim’s modernization drive. In March, KCNA reported Kim’s inspection of “AI suicide attack drones,” and recent statements have made it clear: advancing unmanned equipment and AI is now a top priority for the regime. Kim has called for “primary efforts to rapidly develop newly-introduced artificial intelligence technology” and for the expansion of drone production capacity.
This push is no isolated experiment. Analysts like Hong Min from the Korea Institute for National Unification say North Korea sees drones as “major military activity assets,” offering low-cost, high-efficiency threats. AI enables autonomous missions, improved accuracy, and mass production—all critical features for a nation seeking asymmetric power.
Lim Eul-chul of Kyungnam University adds that AI could allow North Korean drones to operate independently, even in the face of GPS jamming or lost communications—a scenario the regime has already tested against South Korean assets. This capability, he notes, draws on Russian technology transfers and lessons from the Ukraine conflict, where unmanned vehicles have transformed battlefield dynamics.
From the Skies to the Seas: Nuclear-Capable Drones and Strategic Naval Expansion
North Korea’s drone ambitions don’t stop at surveillance or tactical strikes. State media and military insiders have described the “Haeil” (tsunami) underwater drone—a 13-meter, torpedo-like craft believed to be capable of carrying a nuclear warhead. The East Sea Fleet has been ordered to conduct trials, with the ultimate goal of deploying a weapon that could approach enemy vessels or ports undetected, then unleash a “radioactive tsunami” through underwater explosions.
While experts remain uncertain about the drone’s true destructive potential, its existence alone is a powerful signal. For Pyongyang, it’s an “ace in the hole”—a show of naval force that boosts confidence internally and stirs anxiety among adversaries. The regime is also believed to be constructing its largest-ever warship, as satellite images from Maxar Technologies suggest, further expanding its offensive capabilities.
Diplomatic Ripples: Regional Tensions and Global Implications
Kim Jong Un’s focus on AI-driven unmanned weaponry comes at a time of deep diplomatic uncertainty. South Korean President Lee Jae-myung marked the anniversary of the Pyongyang Joint Declaration with calls for peace and mutual respect, but North Korea’s response has been icy. Kim Yo Jong, Kim’s influential sister, declared there is “no interest” in dialogue, highlighting Pyongyang’s skepticism about Seoul’s ability to deliver meaningful concessions like sanctions relief.
Meanwhile, the United States remains a complicated partner for South Korea. Recent events—such as the mass detention of South Korean workers in Georgia—have exposed the limits of Washington’s commitment to its allies. There’s a real risk, analysts warn, that the U.S. could strike a deal with Pyongyang that undermines South Korea’s security interests.
In this environment, Seoul faces pressure to ramp up proactive diplomacy, engaging not only with neighbors but also with European powers to create a multilateral framework for dialogue. Kim’s drive to showcase North Korea’s technological leverage on the world stage may open doors for broader discussions, but the risks of a new Cold War on the peninsula are palpable.
Military Experience Abroad: The Russia Connection
North Korea’s embrace of drone warfare has not happened in a vacuum. In 2024, South Korean and Western intelligence reported that Pyongyang sent over 10,000 soldiers to Russia’s Kursk region, alongside artillery, missiles, and rocket systems. Some 600 North Korean troops have reportedly died and thousands wounded fighting for Russia. This exchange of personnel and materiel has given North Korean forces hands-on experience with modern, AI-enabled battlefield tactics, further accelerating domestic drone development.
Experts believe North Korea’s new drones may reflect lessons learned from Russia’s use of unmanned systems in Ukraine. The transfer of technology and operational know-how from Moscow has given Pyongyang a sharper edge—and raised new challenges for regional defense planners.
Looking Ahead: The Risks and Realities of AI-Driven Conflict
The rapid integration of artificial intelligence and unmanned systems into North Korea’s military signals a dramatic shift in regional power dynamics. Drones—whether airborne or underwater—offer the regime new ways to threaten adversaries without risking its own personnel. The ability to mass-produce autonomous weapons, resistant to electronic countermeasures, could make North Korea’s military both more unpredictable and more dangerous.
For South Korea and its allies, the challenge is clear. The era of conventional deterrence is giving way to a new paradigm, where AI-driven systems complicate both defense and diplomacy. As Kim Jong Un pushes his country toward “great power status,” the stakes for the Korean Peninsula—and beyond—have never been higher.
North Korea’s accelerated pursuit of AI-powered military drones is not just a technological leap—it’s a statement of intent. By blending indigenous innovation with lessons and technology from Russia, Pyongyang is reshaping its military doctrine for the age of autonomous warfare. The international community must recognize that the traditional playbook for managing North Korean threats is increasingly outdated. Navigating this new landscape will require adaptability, vigilance, and a willingness to engage with emerging security realities.