--- title: "Kim Jong Un Declares AI Drones Top Priority: Pyongyang Unveils New Defense Strategy" description: "KCNA reported that Kim Jong Un, at an exhibition in Pyongyang, named the integration of AI into unmanned systems a priority for army modernization and unveiled a new North Korean defense strategy." date: 2026-10-31T13:06:02.392Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/kim-jong-un-ai-drones-north-korea-defense-strategy tags: [north-korea, kim-jong-un, drones, artificial-intelligence, military, kcna] author: "Alexander Buran" publisher: "XAB.info" --- # Kim Jong Un Declares AI Drones Top Priority: Pyongyang Unveils New Defense Strategy ![North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in a black leather jacket inspects a military exhibition surrounded by generals.](https://xab.info/media/2026/10/31/kim-chon-yn-ii-drony-oboronaya-strategiya-kndr/kim-chon-yn-ii-drony-oboronaya-strategiya-kndr-1.webp) ## Key Points - Kim Jong Un named the introduction of AI into unmanned systems as a top priority for modernizing the North Korean army at an exhibition in Pyongyang. - The North Korean leader presented a state defense development strategy and announced the expansion of unmanned aviation forces. - All strategic statements and equipment specifications are cited with reference to KCNA and Kim Jong Un himself; there is no independent verification in open sources. The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has set a number of tasks for the country's armed forces related to the accelerated development of unmanned military technologies, the integration of artificial intelligence systems into them, and the enhancement of drone combat capabilities. According to the agency, the head of state voiced these policy statements during a visit to the specialized military exhibition 'Development of Unmanned Aviation Equipment — 2026,' which opened in Pyongyang. The event apparently served as a platform for the public demonstration of Pyongyang's new defense policy course. ### Shifting Paradigm of Military Conflicts Speaking at the exhibition, Kim Jong Un, according to KCNA, emphasized that the essence of military clashes in the international arena has fundamentally changed in his assessment. He stated that drones have become 'a decisive leading means' in modern armed conflicts, linking this to the need to revise approaches to army modernization. In this logic, he said, achieving 'absolute military supremacy' in the field of unmanned aerial vehicles has been declared 'a mandatory and non-alternative choice.' ### Artificial Intelligence as the Core of Modernization A key element of the statement was the reliance on artificial intelligence technologies. 'Based on today's development trends, we must consider it a top priority in modernizing our armed forces to resolutely advance key technologies in this field, introduce artificial intelligence into unmanned weapons systems, and increase their capability to conduct military operations,' KCNA quoted the North Korean leader as saying. Thus, the emphasis is shifting from simply increasing the number of devices to their autonomy and intelligent control. ### State Strategy and Force Expansion In addition to rhetorical statements, Kim Jong Un, according to the agency report, presented a special state strategy for the development of national defense and announced the adoption of government decisions aimed at rapidly expanding and strengthening the country's unmanned aviation forces. This indicates that the development of drones is being elevated to the level of long-term state planning rather than being limited to isolated programmatic initiatives. ### Geopolitical Context and Deterrence In his speech, the North Korean leader also reiterated his position on strengthening national security: according to him, under conditions he characterized as growing geopolitical tension, the country's peace and sovereignty can only be preserved through high-tech military might capable of deterrence. Pyongyang's steps to develop AI-driven drones and autonomous strike vehicles, the report notes, are assessed as a factor influencing the regional security balance. Taken together, the military modernization plan put forward by Pyongyang shows that North Korea's defense industry will focus primarily on high-tech and autonomous unmanned systems in the coming years. At the same time, all the listed strategic goals and technical characteristics are statements by Kim Jong Un himself and North Korean state media, and independent verification of the actual capabilities of these systems is not publicly available. ## Fact-Check & Sources - [Важное военное заявление: лидер КНДР объявил новые правила современных войн – Zamin.uz, 30.10.2026](https://zamin.uz/ru/mir/225898-vazhnoe-voennoe-zayavlenie-lider-kndr-obyavil-novye-pravila-sovremennykh-voyn.html) - Single source; retelling of KCNA's statement about Kim Jong Un's visit to the exhibition and his policy statements on AI drones. There is no independent confirmation of the equipment's characteristics. ## FAQ ### Where and when did Kim Jong Un make these statements? According to KCNA, at the specialized military exhibition 'Development of Unmanned Aviation Equipment — 2026' in Pyongyang. ### What is named as the main priority of modernization? The introduction of artificial intelligence into unmanned weapons systems and increasing their capability to conduct military operations. ### Is independent data on the capabilities of these drones presented? No. All characteristics and strategic goals are cited with reference to KCNA and statements by Kim Jong Un himself; no open independent verification has been provided.