North Korea shows and tests new Russian model based UAV.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un oversaw a demonstration of new explosive drones designed to crash into targets and has pledged to boost the development of such weapons to enhance his military's war readiness, state media reported on Monday, 26 august 2024.  
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Test of Lancet based UAV on a South korean K-2 replica, picture is blurred by North Korea press agency  (Picture source:  YONHAP NEWS / KCNA)

Kim Jong Un flaunted his growing military capabilities amid tensions with Washington and Seoul. North Korean photos from the test show a white drone with X-shaped tails and wings, intended to crash into and destroy a target resembling South Korea's main battle tank, K-2. Most combat drones remain distant from targets and fire missiles.

The test, which occurred on Saturday according to state media, comes as the U.S. and South Korean militaries conduct a large-scale exercise aimed at bolstering their combined defense capabilities against the increasing nuclear threats from North Korea.

The allies stated that the Ulchi Freedom Shield exercises, ongoing until Thursday, aim to strengthen their readiness against North Korean threats and will also reflect lessons learned from recent armed conflicts. The United States and South Korea also began a separate amphibious landing exercise on Monday involving dozens of aircraft and ships from their navies, including American F-35 fighters and the amphibious assault ship USS Boxer. The South Korean military said the Ssangyong exercise, which will continue until September 7, aims to improve combat interoperability.

The North Korean state news agency KCNA reported that Saturday's drone test involved various types of drones designed to fly at different distances to attack enemy targets on land and at sea. The drones followed different routes before precisely hitting the tested targets. Kim stated that global trends in military technologies and modern combat underscore the significance of drones in warfare, and that the North Korean military should be equipped with advanced drones "as soon as possible."

He called for the accelerated development and production of various drones that explode on impact, perform reconnaissance missions, or attack underwater targets, KCNA stated. Lee Chang Hyun, spokesperson for the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, mentioned during a press briefing that the South Korean military was closely examining North Korea's drone capabilities, but did not provide a detailed assessment. He added, without further details, that the South Korean military was equipped with systems to detect and intercept such drones.

Some analysts suggest that the North Korean drones shown in state media photos resemble Russian Zala Lancet-3 drones, and Lee stated that the South was investigating the possibility that Russia had helped North Korea acquire its drone capability. We know that during past exchanges between North Korea and Russia, some drones were offered to North Korea. Additionally, a second blurred image by the Pyongyang regime shows an Iranian Omid drone, highlighting tripartite cooperation, which would explain recent technological advances between Russia, North Korea, and Iran.

North Korea and Russia have closely collaborated in the face of their separate confrontations with the United States, with Kim Jong Un and Russian President Vladimir Putin having held consecutive summits in September last year and in June.

Test of Iranian Omid UAV, picture is blurred by North Korea press agency  (Picture source:   KCNA)