North Korea's Kim observes tests of new reconnaissance and attack drones: ‘Increase production’

Seoul (South Korea), 27 Mar. (LaPresse/AP) – North Korean leader Kim Jong Un observed tests of new reconnaissance and attack drones this week and called for increased production, state media reported. Kim emphasised that the development of drones and the tests are the latest demonstration of his country's growing military capabilities. Photos published by North Korea's official news agency, the Korean Central News Agency, show Kim observing what appears to be a large reconnaissance drone, vaguely resembling Boeing's E-7 Wedgetail airborne early warning and control aircraft. Other images show drones exploding after crashing into military vehicles used as targets. The North Korean agency said the test demonstrated the reconnaissance drone's ability to follow multiple targets and monitor troop movements on land and at sea, potentially improving North Korea's intelligence gathering and ability to neutralise enemy threats. Furthermore, the new explosive drones are reportedly designed for various attack missions and are equipped with unspecified artificial intelligence capabilities.