Kim Jong Un declares AI “top priority” for North Korea’s military drone program

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has declared artificial intelligence a “top priority” for modernizing his military’s weapons technology and expanding drone capabilities, according to state media reports. This announcement underscores North Korea’s accelerating efforts to enhance its military arsenal through advanced technology, positioning the regime to potentially threaten US forces and allies in Northeast Asia from what intelligence officials describe as its “strongest strategic position in decades.”

What you should know: Kim presided over performance tests of multipurpose drones and unmanned surveillance vehicles during a visit to Pyongyang’s Unmanned Aeronautical Technology Complex on Thursday.

• The North Korean leader emphasized “rapidly developing the newly-introduced artificial intelligence technology” as a “top priority” to increase unmanned weapons systems capabilities.
• Kim called for “expanding and strengthening the serial production capacity of drones” to boost military readiness.
• The visit occurred just one week after Kim oversaw tests of a new solid-fuel rocket engine for intercontinental ballistic missiles.

The big picture: North Korea’s military modernization extends far beyond AI-powered drones, encompassing a comprehensive weapons program that now poses significant regional threats.

• The country’s arsenal includes nuclear-armed ballistic and cruise missiles, an expanding nuclear weapons stockpile, and a developing spy satellite program.
• North Korean active duty personnel number an estimated one million troops, supplemented by more than seven million reservists from a population of roughly 25.6 million.
• In May, the US Defense Intelligence Agency reported that North Korea “is in its strongest strategic position in decades, possessing the military means to hold at risk US forces and US allies in Northeast Asia.”

AI development efforts: While North Korea’s exact AI capabilities remain unclear, the regime has undertaken substantial efforts to advance its technological capabilities despite international sanctions.

• A 38 North analysis found that North Korea has engaged in cross-border collaborative AI research with academics in the US, China, and South Korea.
• These efforts have largely relied on China, one of the world’s most dominant AI players, according to the independent analysis group.
• The collaboration suggests North Korea has made “substantial efforts” to catch up in the global AI race.

Strategic partnerships: North Korea has strengthened ties with both China and Russia to support its military and technological ambitions.

• Kim and Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a mutual defense treaty last year that raised concerns in Western capitals.
• A German think tank reported that while North Korea has provided nearly $10 billion in weapons to Moscow and tens of thousands of soldiers for the Ukraine conflict, it has received only $457 million to $1.19 billion in return.
• Moscow’s aid has consisted mainly of food, fuel, air defense systems, and possibly some fighter aircraft.

What they’re saying: Kim has characterized joint US-South Korea military exercises as provocative actions against his country.

• The North Korean leader has panned these drills as “a rehearsal of a war of aggression” against North Korea.
• Earlier this month, Kim appeared in Beijing alongside Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Putin, which analysts viewed as a stark display of North Korea’s desire to take up the world stage.