Kim Jong-un orders 'massive production' of explosive drones in North Korea

According to experts, Pyongyang may have acquired these technologies from Russia, its long-time ally with which it has grown considerably closer since the start of the war in Ukraine.

Pyongyang wants to diversify its weapons. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un ordered the “production massive“explosive drones “as soon as possible”reported the state news agency KCNA, Friday, November 15, at a time when his country is accused of sending soldiers and weapons to Russia to help it in its war against Ukraine.

Kim Jong-un attended a performance test of this type of machine in a factory on Thursday, according to the North Korean agency. These explosive-carrying drones, which Pyongyang first unveiled in August, are designed to deliberately crash into enemy targets, acting like guided missiles. Kim Jong-un said drones were a “easy to use item” due to their relatively low production cost and wide range of applications, according to KCNA.

Experts said the drones, images of which were published by state media in August, resemble the Russian-made Lancet-3, as well as the Israeli-made Harop explosive drone and the Israeli-made Hero-30. According to specialists, North Korea could have acquired these technologies from Russia which, in turn, probably obtained them from Iran, Tehran itself being suspected of having had access to them by hacking or by stealing them from Israel.