North Korea launches new ‘suicide drone'

North Korea has launched a new "suicide drone" as the country's leader Kim Jong Un, who oversaw the test, called for the development and production of more such drones to enhance war preparedness, state media reported Monday.

The launch was organized by the Drone Institute of the Academy of Defense Sciences on Saturday, during which various types of drones "correctly" identified and destroyed their designated targets after flying along different preset routes, according to the Korean Central News Agency.

The drone test came as the US and South Korea staged their joint annual large-scale military drill last week, which will last for 11 days.

Suicide drones are explosive-carrying unmanned drones designed to be deliberately crashed into targets.

Kim called for more “suicide drones” to be developed for use in tactical infantry and special operation units, including underwater suicide attack drones, as well as those for strategic reconnaissance and multipurpose attacks.

He stressed the importance of steadily improving their combat performance "in view of the trend of world military science and combat experience on battlefields."

The leader also said the country should proactively introduce artificial intelligence technology into drone development and equip the military units with such assets "as early as possible."

According to Seoul-based Yonhap News Agency, a mock target for North Korean suicide attack drones looked like a South Korean K-2 tank, citing photos carried by KCNA.It is the first time North Korea has unveiled photos of such weapons.

Among the unveiled drones, one of them appeared similar to Israel's Harop unmanned vehicle, while another model looked akin to Russia's Lancet drone, raising questions about possible cooperation between Pyongyang and Moscow in drone development efforts, according to Yonhap.