---
title: "Smart Fire: North Korea First Uses AI in Cruise Missiles to Strike South Korea"
description: "North Korea has tested cruise missiles with artificial intelligence capable of striking targets at a distance of 100 km. Experts call this the first public admission of the use of AI in Pyongyang's armaments, which is causing serious concern in South Korea. 🚀🤖🇰🇵"
date: 2026-05-30T11:00:56.000Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/north-korea-tests-ai-cruise-missiles-to-strike-south-korea
tags: []
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# Smart Fire: North Korea First Uses AI in Cruise Missiles to Strike South Korea

![Launch of a cruise missile from a mobile complex against the backdrop of a sunset, illustrating North Korea's weapon tests with artificial intelligence](https://xab.info/media/2026/05/30/kndr-ispityla-rakety-s-ii-dlya-udara-po-yuzhnoi-koree/pustok-rakety-kndr-ispytaniya.webp)

A new arms race is unfolding over the Korean Peninsula, where the main players are not just projectiles, but algorithms. North Korea, traditionally known for its grand missile parades, has moved to a qualitatively new level: Pyongyang has officially announced successful tests of tactical weapons controlled by artificial intelligence.

### The Era of "Smart" Missiles

Under the personal leadership of Kim Jong Un, exercises were conducted during which tactical ballistic missiles, multiple rocket launch systems, and, most importantly, high-precision cruise missiles were tested. The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported that the tests confirmed the effectiveness of "special-purpose warheads" and the reliability of long-range systems.

However, the key point was the announcement of the integration of neural networks into guidance systems. This is the first time North Korea has publicly acknowledged using AI to control munitions. According to the country's leader, the modernized complexes are now capable of "meeting the conditions of modern warfare," ensuring unprecedented accuracy in striking targets.

### Technological Breakthrough or Marketing?

Experts are paying attention to the details: the declared guidance system is capable of recognizing targets in real-time using streaming data. Yang Wook from the Asan Institute for Policy Studies notes that this represents a shift from simple ballistics to active target search at the terminal stage of the trajectory.

However, not everything is clear-cut. Hong Min from the Korea Institute for National Unification warns against premature conclusions. In his opinion, behind "artificial intelligence" there may simply be a modernized digital system with automatic recognition functions, the complexity of which is difficult to assess without detailed analysis.

### Geography of the Threat

The strategic goal of these tests is obvious. New cruise missiles with a range of up to 100 km are planned to be deployed in artillery units directly near the Demilitarized Zone. This puts critical South Korean facilities, including military bases and infrastructure previously considered relatively safe, under threat.

Pyongyang is demonstrating readiness for escalation by constantly updating its arsenal. If the focus was previously on long-range nuclear missiles, the emphasis is now shifting to tactical weapons capable of delivering a rapid and precise strike in the event of a conflict.

### Seoul's Reaction and the Role of the US

Against the backdrop of Pyongyang's aggressive rhetoric and new tests, South Korea is forced to review its defense doctrine. Particular concern is not only the ground threat but also the development of North Korea's submarine fleet, where, according to intelligence, Russian technologies are used.

In response, Seoul plans a massive strengthening of anti-submarine defense. The plans include purchasing a package of equipment worth about $3 billion, which includes 24 helicopters equipped with modern sonars and anti-spoofing systems. Permission to export this equipment is already being considered by the US State Department, which indicates the seriousness of the intentions of the South Korean leadership.