North Korea: Kim Jong Un Orders 'Mass Production' of Kamikaze Drones

Facts

• According to North Korean state media outlet The Pyongyang Times, Kim Jong Un on Thursday guided a 'performance test of suicide attack drones of various types' and called for a 'full-scale mass production' of the flying weapons.^[1]
• State media released photos of at least two types of drones, including x-shaped ones similar to those disclosed in August, which reportedly contain advanced technology. The drones were shown apparently blowing up targets like vehicles and tanks with precision.^[2]
• State media further stated that the drones can be used for various 'striking ranges on the ground and the sea,' adding that Kim plans to 'open a prospect of combining and applying new and promising tactical methods.'^[3]
• This comes as Russia has reportedly begun training North Korean troops — including with drones — to fight in Ukraine. According to Western officials, North Korean soldiers have already begun fighting on the frontlines.^[4][5]
• This also follows accusations last month from North Korea that the South was sending drones across the border to drop propaganda leaflets, and coincides with joint military drills between the US, South Korea, and Japan near the Korean Peninsula.^[2][6]

Sources: ^[1]PyongyangTimes, ^[2]Newsweek, ^[3]KCNA Watch, ^[4]South China Morning Post, ^[5]Axios and ^[6]Saudigazette.

Narratives

• Pro-establishment narrative, as provided by New York Times and Atlantic Council. North Korea’s accelerated drone program and deepening ties with Russia underscore a growing military threat to the West. Kim Jong Un's weapons are now modeled on advanced foreign designs and bolstered by Russian technology, enhancing its potential offensive capabilities. As North Korean troops gain combat experience in Ukraine, especially regarding the use of drones, the West must prepare to counter threats to both Europe and the Indo-Pacific.
• Establishment-critical narrative, as provided by Intercept and Archive. It makes sense that North Korea, which has long faced provocation from the US and South Korea, would seek to even the playing field with respect to military technology. The US has conducted illegal drone strikes on civilians for over a decade, and now it's developing lethal autonomous drones in preparation for war in the Pacific. Neither Pyongyang nor Moscow actually want a wider war, but they have a right to arm themselves in the face of continued Western aggression.

Predictions