PYONGYANG - In a significant move to project military strength, North Korea has officially revealed the final, operational version of its indigenously developed suicide drones. State-run media reported today that leader Kim Jong Un oversaw performance tests of the new unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), a clear signal that the regime is moving its drone program from the experimental phase to active deployment.
The newly unveiled drones have been officially named "Geumseong" (금성), a designation that marks a new and notable addition to the country's growing arsenal of unmanned systems. The unveiling comes as North Korea prepares to wrap up its current "Five-Year Plan for National Defense Development" and looks toward the upcoming 9th Party Congress, where a new strategic military plan is expected to be announced.
Photos published by the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) show two distinct types of the so-called "tactical unmanned attack aircraft" striking their targets with precision. One model features a distinctive manta-ray-like wing, while the other sports a cruciform design. Military analysts were quick to note the striking resemblance of the drones to foreign-developed systems, with the manta-ray model resembling Israel's "Harop" loitering munition and the cruciform model drawing comparisons to Russia's "Lancet-3" or Israel's "Hero-30."
A key difference in the newly released images is the drones' appearance. Unlike the white, heavily-mosaicked prototypes shown during Kim Jong Un's inspections last year, the new images display the drones in a gray camouflage paint scheme and with un-censored detail. This change in appearance, according to experts like senior researcher Hong Min of the Korea Institute for National Unification, signifies a crucial shift. “It means they have moved past the experimental and development stages and have reached a point of practical deployment,” Hong said.
The drones are believed to be equipped with artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities, a technology that Kim has repeatedly ordered his defense sector to prioritize. He has specifically emphasized the importance of AI for features such as automatic target recognition and autonomous flight paths, which are standard in modern military drones. The integration of such technology underscores a concerted effort to modernize and enhance the country's unmanned warfare capabilities.
In addition to the "Geumseong" drones, the KCNA report also showcased the "Saetbyeol-4," a large reconnaissance drone that military observers have likened to the U.S. "Global Hawk." The display of these advanced systems is largely seen as a political performance to highlight the achievements of the current national defense plan ahead of the 9th Party Congress. During the event, Kim Jong Un is expected to present a new defense strategy, possibly re-affirming his "byungjin" (parallel advancement) policy of developing both nuclear and conventional forces.
Analysts anticipate that North Korea will continue to publicize military achievements in the lead-up to the Party Congress to bolster national pride and demonstrate the effectiveness of its strategic defense initiatives.
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