North Korea’s Kim calls for 'absolute superiority' in drone technology

By Ilayda Cakirtekin

ISTANBUL (AA) - North Korean leader Kim Jong Un stressed the need for "absolute superiority" in drone technology as an "indispensable option" in the face of evolving warfare, state media reported Thursday.

"Strength precisely means peace, and peace is guaranteed only by strength. This is a matter of common sense needed to survive in the present noisy world," Kim said, according to the state-owned Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

He called on the country's scientists to achieve breakthroughs in unmanned aviation technology and artificial intelligence (AI) for national defense, referring to the country’s nuclear weapons capabilities and advances in conventional weapons.

Kim further pointed to the significance of the developments of unmanned aeronautical technology "in developing the DPRK's armed forces into the ultra-modern elite army well-versed in modern warfare."

He reportedly said that as unmanned military systems increasingly become key assets in modern warfare and their applications continue to expand, developing core technologies, integrating advanced AI into unmanned weapons systems and enhancing their operational capabilities must be treated as a "top-priority" in modernizing the armed forces.

Kim made the remarks while attending an exhibition titled “Unmanned Aeronautical Technology Development-2026” held Thursday.

The demonstration featured firepower strikes using various tactical suicide drones, tactical cruise missiles, multipurpose drones and a battalion equipped with 600-millimeter multiple rocket launchers.

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