North Korea tests AI drones designed for suicide attacks
What's the story
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has supervised the testing and unveiling of new military hardware, including AI-powered drones.
As per Korean state media, these drones are intended to conduct suicide missions.
Kim stressed the need for unmanned control and AI capabilities in modern weapons development.
He said "the field of unmanned equipment and artificial intelligence should be top-prioritized and developed in modernizing the armed forces."
New development
North Korea unveils early-warning aircraft
North Korea has also unveiled an airborne early-warning aircraft for the first time, possibly bolstering its aging air defense systems.
State media photos showed Kim inspecting a large four-engine plane with a radar dome on its fuselage during a low-altitude fly-by.
The development is viewed as part of North Korea's continuous efforts to modernize and bolster its military capabilities.
Aircraft analysis
North Korea's new aircraft: A closer look
Commercial satellite imagery had indicated that North Korea was modifying the Russian-made Il-76 cargo aircraft for early-warning operations.
This type of aircraft, according to London's International Institute for Strategic Studies, could supplement North Korea's existing land-based radar systems, which are sometimes blocked by the peninsula's mountainous terrain.
However, South Korea's military said it was unsure about the operational capability of the new aircraft.
Military upgrades
Kim inspects new reconnaissance and attack equipment
Apart from the early-warning aircraft, Kim also looked at newly developed reconnaissance drones that can detect a range of tactical targets and observe enemy activities on land and sea.
Photos shown by state media showed fixed-wing UAVs targeting a tank-shaped target before exploding in flames.
North Korean troops deployed in Russia's war against Ukraine are reportedly believed to have gained valuable experience in drone warfare.