North Korea Tests AI-Guided Missiles
North Korea has tested tactical ballistic missiles, artillery rockets and AI-guided precision cruise missiles under the supervision of leader Kim Jong Un, according to state media. The launches come as Pyongyang continues to upgrade its conventional and tactical weapons near the border with South Korea.
North Korea Missile Tests
The tests assessed the power of a special mission warhead fitted to tactical ballistic missiles, the reliability of long-range multiple-launch artillery rockets and the accuracy of AI-guided tactical cruise missiles.
North Korean state media said the weapons were tested to improve their use in modern warfare. Kim Jong Un said the launches showed that the weapons and automated launch systems had been upgraded for combat conditions.
AI-Guided Cruise Missiles
North Korea claimed that the cruise missiles used precision navigation and AI-guided control systems. The missiles are reportedly intended for deployment with artillery units near the border with South Korea and are said to have a strike range of about 100 km.
Military analysts said this appears to be the first time North Korea has publicly claimed the use of AI in missile targeting. However, the actual sophistication and accuracy of the technology remain difficult to independently verify.
South Korea Border Security
The development is significant because central Seoul lies within 100 km of the Demilitarized Zone separating the two Koreas. South Korea’s military said it had detected multiple projectile launches, including a ballistic missile.
North Korea has also supplied missiles and artillery rockets to Russia since late 2023 for use in the Ukraine war. Analysts believe battlefield feedback from those weapons may be helping Pyongyang improve its arsenal.
