North Korea Tests AI Drones, Enhances Military Ties

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has overseen the development and testing of new AI-powered military technology, including suicide drones and an airborne early-warning radar system. The drones, known as loitering munitions, are designed to crash into targets with their payloads, and their rapid development is believed to be assisted by Russian technology, as North Korea supports Russia in the Ukraine conflict. State media reported Kim's emphasis on prioritizing unmanned and AI capabilities in modernizing the armed forces, highlighting the strategic importance of these technologies in modern warfare. Additionally, North Korea unveiled its first airborne early-warning aircraft, potentially improving its aging air defense systems, which are limited by the peninsula's mountainous terrain. Analysts suggest the aircraft is a converted Russian-made Il-76, enhancing North Korea's ability to detect enemy aircraft and missiles. The developments occur amid escalating geopolitical tensions and growing military cooperation between North Korea and Russia.