North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has declared the development of artificial intelligence (AI) a “top priority” in advancing the country’s weapons technology and expanding its drone capabilities, state media reported on Friday.
During a visit to the Unmanned Aeronautical Technology Complex in Pyongyang, Kim presided over performance tests of multipurpose drones and surveillance vehicles, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).
He reportedly urged officials to “rapidly develop the newly introduced artificial intelligence technology” to strengthen the country’s unmanned weapons systems and to “expand and strengthen the serial production capacity of drones.”
The visit came just a week after Kim oversaw the test of a solid-fuel engine for intercontinental ballistic missiles, which he described as a “significant” boost to North Korea’s nuclear arsenal.
Pyongyang already possesses nuclear-armed ballistic and cruise missiles, a growing nuclear stockpile and an emerging spy satellite programme, according to the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency.
North Korea’s military strength includes an estimated one million active troops and more than seven million reservists in a country of 25.6 million people.
Independent analysis suggests the country has pursued cross-border AI collaborations with researchers in China, South Korea and the United States despite sanctions, relying heavily on Chinese expertise.
Kim’s focus on AI comes amid deepening ties with Russia and China. Last year, Pyongyang signed a mutual defence treaty with Moscow, though analysts say North Korea has provided more to Russia’s war in Ukraine – including nearly $10 billion in weapons and tens of thousands of soldiers – than it has received in return.
Analysts view Kim’s recent appearances alongside Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin as evidence of his ambition to elevate North Korea’s global standing, even as he condemns joint U.S.–South Korea military drills as preparations for “a war of aggression.”
