North Korea Orders Production of Suicide Drones Amid Growing Military Ties with Russia Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un

According to a Reuters report citing North Korean state media, Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un personally oversaw a demonstration of the drones' capabilities, signaling his intention to significantly increase their production. The drones, which are designed to target military assets and infrastructure, are a type of advanced weapon that self-destructs upon hitting its objective.

This development follows the strengthening of military ties between Pyongyang and Moscow, which began last year. North Korea has been supplying weapons and ammunition to Russia, while benefiting from economic and technological support, including military advancements, from the Kremlin. It is believed that Russia may be assisting North Korea in the production of these suicide drones, which could eventually be used by Russian forces in the Ukraine conflict.

Suicide drones, also known as loitering munition, are becoming a popular weapon in modern warfare, offering a cost-effective, precise, and efficient alternative to traditional bombs and missiles. These drones loiter over the battlefield, searching for targets, and once they lock onto an objective, they dive into it, exploding on impact. This makes them particularly useful in targeting military equipment, weaponry, and critical infrastructure in conflict zones like Ukraine and the Middle East.

The move further deepens the military collaboration between North Korea and Russia, raising alarms in the West, who fear the proliferation of such weapons could escalate conflicts and destabilize global security. However, neither Moscow nor Pyongyang has officially commented on the allegations surrounding their growing military cooperation or the production of these deadly drones.